On (not) working and reading

So far this summer, beyond graduating from college, traveling to DC, spending time with friends and family, and meeting Vic's parents (who are so sweet and funny), I've been reading and not working. Granted, it's been sort of nice to have some time off, but now it's just...dare I say, a tad boring? Having some sort of income would be nice, as I'm trying to save money for a new laptop (it's cheaper to get an all-new computer instead of repairing the one I currently have), as well as grad school tuition, books, and an apartment.

(And, yes, I realize that tuition, books, and apartment are pending acceptance into grad school with is pending on taking the MAT on Thursday and getting all of my letters of recommendation in. I'm still waiting for one more. Which is really, really aggravating.)

Anyhow. The following is a list of books I'm hoping to read over this summer. Suggestions are always welcome and if you've read any of them, I'd love to discuss them with you.

- Imagine: How Creativity Works (Jonah Lehrer)
- Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail (Cheryl Strayed)
- An Abundance of Katherines (John Green)
- The Hunt for Red October (Tom Clancy)
- The Recursive Mind (Michael C. Corballis)
- Middlesex (Jeffrey Eugenides)
- Lord of the Flies (William Golding)
- Stranger in a Strange Land (William Golding)
- Dune (Frank Herbert)
- 11/22/63 (Stephen King)
- The Shining (Stephen King)
- Freakonomics (Stephen D. Levitt)
- The Pilgrim's Regress (C.S. Lewis)
- The English Patient (Michael Ondaajte)
- Freud on Madison Avenue (Lawrence K. Samuel)
- The Believing Brain (Michael Shermer)
- The Help (Kathryn Stockett)
- The Good Among the Great (Donald Van de Mark)
- The Book Thief (Markus Zuzak)
- Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking (Susan Cain)
- Nerds: How Dorks, Dweebs, Techies, and Trekkies Can Save America and Why They Might Be Our Last Hope (David Anderegg)

And if you're curious, this is what I have read so far this summer. I recommend them both:
- The Big Bang Theory and Philosophy: Rock, Paper, Scissors, Aristotle, Locke (Dean Kowalski)
- The Social Animal (David Brooks)

Now I'm off to read and hopefully not melt in the lack of air conditioning in my room.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Bad puns aside, I can now say that I've crossed another item off of my bucket list:  donating my hair to Locks of Love.  Throughout college, my hair's been varying lengths.  However, once it gets to a point where it's so long that it's annoying, it's just time to cut it off and start fresh.

Because it had been over a year since I got my hair cut last, I didn't even know what style I wanted. I just knew I had to have 10" to donate, and whatever was left over, well, that's what I'd work with...

Before...

And the end results! (Taken with my webcam because I'm lazy.)

...and after!

Unpack. Organize. Repeat.

"Oh look! We can be
questioned by
Leonardo DiCaprio!" -Vic

I'm surrounded by books, pillows, clothes, a gown from graduation, various toiletries, pictures, and a general mess. Yup, it's that time of the year again: moving back home from college and figuring out how to unpack and organize my life. It doesn't help that my parents decided to move a small couch and chair into my room a few weeks ago either. But I digress...

Last Saturday after graduation, I got home and did a whole lot of nothing. Sunday was a fairly low-key Mother's Day.  I spent it with my family at my grandmother's house and then went to Vic's to spend the night before going to DC for an awesome few days.

The Capitol

Last time I was in DC was 7 years ago, so getting to go back was a lot of fun. We saw the monuments, a few museums (Natural History, American History, Madame Tussauds), took a tour of the Capitol and National Archives, explored Chinatown, and so much more. Because Vic had done an internship in DC, he knew the Metro really well (which I was thankful for, because I'm generally hopelessly directionally challenged).

Being able to take a mini vacation was a great way to just get away and relax for a few days. No internet, email, Facebook, Blogger... Just relaxing and enjoying each other's company and getting to know the other people we were traveling with (well, for me anyway. It was a History Club trip, after all).

With Mr. Lincoln

From what I can tell, the rest of the summer is probably going to be pretty relaxing as well. I'm going back to my part-time job, hanging out with Vic and other friends, having a ridiculous grad party (we're celebrating 3 graduations in my family this year: Mom got her Master's, I got my Bachelor's, and my brother graduates from high school in a few weeks).

Beyond that, I have to take the MAT for consideration for admission to a Master's program and am hoping to hear back about some potential graduate assistantship opportunities to help pay for grad school. We'll see what happens.

I guess I should finish unpacking now...

It's done, it's over... I graduated!

It still hasn't officially sunk in that I'm a college graduate. It has, but it hasn't. It's a strange feeling. My mom walked into my room today and I still had a moment of panic wondering how she got in without a key (talk about a res life state of mind...).

But, for now, I'm relaxing while waiting for my mom to get off the phone so I can go back to the same town my school is in.  This time, however, it won't be to play the role of mother, resource, and part-time counselor for my 71 residents. I get to go to DC with the bacon of boyfriends.

So, readers, I leave you with some pictures from commencement. And a formal post will be in the next few days.

With Amber, my fellow psych major

Dakota! :D

The best boyfriend a girl could wish for.

My parents are incredible. Mom just got her Master's
the day before I got my Bachelor's (and from the
same school)!

The beginning, end, and everything in between

On Saturday, I will walk across a stage in front of a crapload of friends, family, and fellow grads (accurate measurement, I know), shake hands with the university president, and receive my diploma for a Bachelor of Arts.

Holy. Shit.

Two years ago, at Mom's grad party
(she's on the right)

My cap and gown are hanging in my closet. I have to pick up one more set of cords at the bookstore.

It seems like just yesterday I was watching my mom and one of my friends get their Bachelor's degrees, not two years ago. (And my mom graduates again this year with her Master's - it's a lot of fun going to the same school).

The final to-do list of my undergraduate career is very slim. I already started packing my room up (which is more depressing this year than it was last). All but my unopened Brita pitcher, pens/pencils, cleaning supplies, toiletries, printer, clothes, towels, sheets & comforter, and other odds and ends are all packed. I also need to eventually take apart my chair and ottoman, defrost my mini fridge, and then haul everything home.

The three amigos

Academically, I have two grades in and only have one more final to take.  I have 8 office hours as a CA left (6 of my own, 2 I'm covering for someone in exchange for them covering hours of mine), 6 work study hours left, and one last on-call day.

This year has by far been the most memorable in college. I have done so much, learned so much, and it's been amazing. Sure, there have been the bad times, but there has been so much more good. I have incredibly supportive friends and family, and the most wonderful boyfriend a girl could wish for.

It hasn't fully sunk in yet that I'm graduating, but that could have something to do with the fact that I'm hoping to be back at the same school in the fall for a Master's. I suppose only time will tell at this point. It's funny how things in life happen, but I love it and wouldn't change it for the world.