Lumos Party (Yes I know I'm 3 week late on this post)

So the lovely people of the HPA asked us to blog about our Lumos Parties if we were hosting one. Well I know it's been three weeks since Deathly Hallows came out (omg!) but I never have time to do anything, which is why I'm writing this now. But hey, better late than never right?

Our Lumos Party turned out to be pretty interesting. Most of our chapter members forgot to bring flashlights and wands, but that didn't stop us from walking down the line of people waiting in the freezing cold and asking them to sign the Starvation Wages Petition. A few of ran over to the grocery store (which happened to be in the same shopping center as the movie theater) and we handed out chocolate to everyone who signed the petition (Andrew Slack actually suggested this during one of the livestreams). It worked out really well. Now not a lot of people saw the movie in New Paltz because, well, it's a small rinky dink theater, but we did get 6 pages full of signatures and that's pretty good in my opinion.

I still really wanted to do the whole Lumos light up thing, so once we were all seated inside, Katherine and I decided that we should go up to the front of the theater and tell everyone about the Deathly Hallows Campaign. We then asked people to take out their cell phones when the lights went off right before the movie was supposed to start and we video-taped it.

The video turned out AMAZING. Seeeeee:

24 Hours Before My Life Begins to End

So we all know...tomorrow is the beginning of the end. I wanted to make absolutely sure that I blogged before my life started to end. Do you realize that come July it will all be over? And that starts tomorrow night.

It's crazy.

Like I can't even believe it.

I started watching videos of all the press interviews that have been happening since November 11. Sadly I have not kept up to date with everything because of schoolwork. It's been crazy. Today is the first day I've had a break in a month and it couldn't have come at a better time. Right before the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Lucky for me, my only class tomorrow got canceled so I can sleep in, spend the day relaxing, take a nap, and then GO TO THE MIDNIGHT SHOWING! OH YA.

I really cannot wrap my mind around anything else right now. The weird thing is, it doesn't totally feel real. I think that's because this is the first HP movie that I will be seeing without Karina since we became friends. It makes me incredibly sad and a part of feels like I shouldn't have this experience without her. I'm glad we're still going to get to see the final part together because it will be EPIC. But I wish we could see the whole ending together, since our friendship bloomed out of our mutual love for Harry Potter.

Woah random rant. Anywho. I'm absolutely thrilled for tomorrow. Since Friday night, our chapter has been watching an HP movie every night to lead up to the release. As I write we are watching HBP. We haven't really had too good of a turnout because we weren't really allowed to advertise, but we have been getting a few signatures every night which is good. Tonight we had a great turnout though compared to all the other nights! Woot woot!

Tomorrow night we are having our Pre-Lumos Party in my dorm followed by stalking the movie theater every half-hour until we decide it's time to start lining up and getting signatures. It's going to be fabulous. I'm hoping that they will let us inside the actual theater we can get up in front and shine our flashlights and explain who are and what we are doing in order to get people to sign the petition. Hopefully we will get plenty of signatures. Then on Friday after I've slept forever, I'm going to enter them into the website. Hopefully all of our e-board members will be willing to help enter names because I feel like we are going to be able to get a lot of signatures. I'm so excited!!

I seriously cannot think of anything else but Harry Potter. It still doesn't seem real to me. It probably won't until we are standing in line waiting to get in. I wonder at what point I'm going to start to cry. Hmmm. I'm definitely bringing a box of tissues with me. That is an absolute must.

I find it extremely awesome and odd that right as I'm getting out of the movie, Karina will be going in. I can't wait to text her and tell her if it was good or not. I mean I've heard it's amazing so I'm going to basically probably send her a text with lots of AHHHHHHH'S and OMGGGGG'S lol.

Well Half-Blood Prince is almost over so I'm going to stop writing to watch with my fellow HP nerds. I can't wait to blog about the movie on Friday. Maybe Saturday. It depends on how long it takes for me to recover from tomorrow night. ZOMG IT'S ALMOST HERE!

Until Friday (or Saturday)...

N8D

The Attempt to Be Positive

So yesterday was very very unproductive and there was no reason for it to be. Needless to say this kind of got me down, but I was determined that I just needed a new day and things would get better. I was wrong.

I was up not 20 minutes this morning when things started to go wrong. I forgot to do a response on Friday for my English Lit class that I didn't remember until this morning. I also forgot to send my business group project to another member of group to finish and I thought I sent it last night. However I had two very angry e-mails in my inbox this morning saying Where the hell is the powerpoint?!?!? Ooops...

Seriously though, it's not my fault. I'm freaking working so many shifts that I don't have time to focus on my schoolwork and that's really bad. I'm not really sure what to do because I'm scared if I complain then I'm going to get in trouble...especially because we are short on hosts' right now. I mean I know they won't fire me or anything because they need me. But they could make my job very miserable if I start complaining and that's not a good thing. The only way I'm planning to say something is if next week they schedule me for four shifts again. I will do it this week because I don't really have a choice. Everybody has work on Vetern's day and I'm hoping that this is just a one time thing. But GAHHHHH.

Anywho...right now I'm watching another disgusting video courtesy of my English Lit class. That is why I'm writing this blog while watching...so I don't really have to watch the gross parts, but I'm at least hearing the dialogue. Yep. Fun Stuff. I have a ton of homework to do today.

Oh wait...I was about to start complaining. But I realized that I'm supposed to be trying to make my day a positive day instead of a negative day. Ok so here we go. I'm really looking forward to the Historical Film Society meeting tonight. We are watching Robin Hood. Unfortunately I can't stay the whole time because there is a Council of Orgs meeting and I really want to talk to Sustainable Agriculture Club about the Starvation Wages Horcrux. I'm hoping that if we partner with them, they will be willing to help get signatures for the petition. I mean I know our club members can reach a lot of people on campus, but by working with another club, we will be able to reach even more people. That's really exciting.

One thing I am proud of for this week is we were able to organize all the movie screenings except in Lenape. That is the only dorm I'm still waiting on and I'm really not too worried about it because most dorms don't do programs on Saturday nights. Also on Friday I'm going to the city! YAY RANDOM HOUSE. I'm super excited. I actually sort of get a three-day weekend because I get to spend a day in NYC at the place where I will hopefully one day work, then I get to come back to campus and watch Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone because I asked for Friday off. And then I don't work until Saturday night so that's kind of cool! YAY.

Ok, I'm going to get some lunch now and try to stay positive in order to turn my day around. It's all about the attitude right? :)

Bother Bother Bother

So I was walking back from yoga today trying to figure out what in the world could possibly be bothering me and make me unable to relax during yoga which IS SUPPOSED TO BE RELAXING. I don't have any homework due tomorrow. All I have to do today is review for my business test at 5pm. Which I will probably be done with by 5:20pm. So I'm pretty much done for the day. I know exactly what needs to get done for HPA and my internship and I've figured out when it's all going to happen. Everything is under control.

Then, I get to my dorm room and I look at the sign posted on my bulletin board that I put up a few days ago. The Relay for Life kickoff is tonight. And I'm not sure I can handle it. That's my problem. The big thing bothering me. I don't know if I can handle Relay because it could very possibly make me a complete wreck.

I'm not really sure what I should do. I want to do Relay for my dad. For me. It's important to me. I understand that I don't have to do this, but in my mind I know I really want to. It's just...a lot harder then I thought it would be. See most of the time I feel like a normal person and everything is fine. But you can't ignore something when it's right in your face. And maybe I'm a little scared of that. I know that participating in Relay this year is going to be hard, but I also feel like it's going to be worth it. So maybe if I can keep that idea in mind, it won't be so difficult to go to the kickoff tonight or participate in April.

With that in mind, I'm going to try and enjoy the rest of my day. Now that I know what's stressing me out, maybe the best thing to do is just to work on as much French homework as I possibly can today. Lord knows I need to study lol.

Moving

Every experience that I've ever had with moving has been chaotic and mind-boggling.

Moving Experience #1:

When I was 17 and we moved, I packed a total of two boxes because I was in the middle of my senior year of high school and had no time. The morning we were set to move my parents screamed at me because my room still looked like I was going to come home to later that night. As far as the unpacking, well I finished unpacking my new room when I started packing stuff to move to college.

Moving Experience #2:

Moving into college was also crazy. My roommate and I were both trying to figure out where to put furniture and our stuff and so on, plus with all of our stuff all over the floor you could barely walk in the room. I was pretty sure I was never going to get everything unpacked and into it's proper place. If my parents hadn't been there, well I probably would have quit college before it ever started.

Moving Experience #3:

When I switched rooms after first semester of my freshmen year, I was not allowed to unpack anything. I was allowed to pile stuff on the bed. I moved smack in the middle of my first time of college finals, again while my roommate's parents happened to be there helping her pack TO GO HOME. I also had to pack to go home for 6 weeks. So I had to figure out what I needed to bring home plus what I needed to stay. And I moved everything down 2 floors all by myself. I somehow managed it all in one day but I was in so much pain after that I wanted to die. I don't think I ever felt so alone in my entire life and I did that day. And then the next day I had to get on a 5 hour flight home and it was the first time I was flying alone. It was pretty shitty and stressful.

Moving Experience #4:

See I think moving into college this year was almost harder then last year. Last year I brought less stuff because I really had no idea what I would need. You don't know what you need at college until you've already been there. My mom and my sister were there to help this year (though Melinda was sick so she didn't do anything) and it literally took us ALL DAY TO MOVE. We got to my dorm at 9am and didn't finish until about 9pm. Oh yeah...we didn't actually finish either. My room this semester wasn't unpacked totally until about the third week of classes. SUCK.

So now, moving experience #5 and guess what...no stress. And I keep thinking that I must be missing something. Like there is no way that I'm ready to move all of my stuff at 3pm today and actually maybe be done in a few hours. I don't believe it. But I went over everything. I already cleaned out most of my closet. My bed is done, most of the stuff is taken off the walls, electronics except for my clock and my desk lamp are unplugged. I just have to figure out in order to move things. First, I'm taking the carpet. Then I'm probably gonna put everything under my bed. After that will be clothes. Then the shelves in my closet. Last, but not least will be my textbook/printer stand. Then the stuff on my desk. The stuff that goes in my desk is already bagged up and ready to go. Then there's just the few things I have on the windowsill. Granted, I probably won't get all my posters hung up tonight. But I'm feeling like this is going to be the easiest move I've ever done.

Now this would be exceptionally nice because I'm right in the middle of my semester and you know...I still have classes and stuff tomorrow. Actually, that stuff is putting on Dumbledore's Army of New Paltz's first program of the semester. So tomorrow is actually going to be an insane day. I also have a research assignment due on Friday. Haven't started that yet. Oops.

The point is, if I can move smoothly tonight, life would be great. I honestly think the hardest part is going to be moving the bed up. Once that is done though, I feel like it's going to be a piece of cake. I mean yes it's a pain in the ass to carry all my shit down a floor, especially with no elevator. But I'm putting it in exactly the same spot that it's in now...just in a different room. So I'm thinking that's why it's going to be easier. Also, Jon is going to be helping me from 3pm-6pm and then Kevin is going to be helping me from like 7pm- whenever I decide to give up for the night and go to sleep. So probably like 10:30. I mean that gives me like 6 hours if I take an hour to go get dinner.

I really hope I'm not fooling myself. I'd like it to go easily. It would make things so much better. Wish me luck!

:)

Dog Days are Over

This weekend, both Saturday and Sunday started out as really great days. Yesterday I went and saw The Wakeville Stories, a play written by my Honors Comp 1 professor and it was epically amazing. I went with Jon and his friend Rich. The play was really interesting and I loved seeing something that a professor I really admire created. However as all good things usually do, the day came to a horrible end. Sadly, certain things have gotten out of control with my roommate.

My mom had some really good insight last week that I realized applied last night. She said in April her life fell apart and I guess I never realized it until now, but mine did too. I don't think you can actually lose a parent, or a spouse, or a child, without your life falling apart. I'm not sure why I was pushing this fact away. The fact is, my life has fallen apart. But it didn't fall apart because of something I did. It just happened. There was nothing I could do to control. But I think before I can pick up the pieces, I probably need to admit that it's fallen apart. Which I finally did last night. How does this relate to my roommate situation? Well, before my dad died, I probably could have dealt with this situation, piece of cake. But right now my strength is missing. So instead of feeling like a failure, I've realized that it's ok to be weak sometimes. I have every damn right to be weak right now. So what if this hit 6 months after? The grieving process really does take a year, if not longer.

Since this realization, I can't say I feel too great. I'm feeling emotionally tired and depressed and I don't want to feel it, but I also don't exactly know how to make it go away. With that being said, at least certain parts of my life still make me happy.

Today was Make a Difference Day and my chapter participated. We ended up volunteering at an Apple Orchard and basically we picked and ate apples for 2 hours. It was ridiculously fun and easy. It was a great way for my HPA chapter to bond and I think we all left feeling like we had done something good. It's those things that make me want to become happy again. The truth is I absolutely LOVE being a CO. It makes my life better and it is the one thing in my life that I constantly look forward to. I feel like it's sort of been my therapy through this year.

Monday Afternoon:

I meant to finish up this blog yesterday, but I guess I never got around to it. It got to be a crazy afternoon.

Continuing on from the awesomness of being a CO...we're having a program on Wednesday. It's our chapter's first official program of the semester and it's going to be awesome. We're doing a screening of AVPM and selling owl cookies. The money is then going to be donated to Friends of Esther. It's pretty exciting. Yesterday I was in such a great mood to blog but right now not so much. So I'm just going to end this before my rambling gets annoying. :)

Lost Headphones and Failing a Poetry Quiz 101

Wednesday was probably the most crazy jam-packed day I've had this semester. I had class. Then I went to Student Activities to find out why I did not receive an e-mail approving the food we are selling at our A Very Potter Musical Screening next week. It turns out he forgot. Oops. Yes. Thank you. How lovely. Next I was off to the library to get an insane amount of work done. Did that happen? Ehh...sort of. You know how it is. After that I had to prep for my meeting and print everything out because I was left for the library again at 3pm and would not be returning until around 10pm. So...library. Read for Business. Go to Business. Work on group project for Business. Go to E-borad meeting. Discuss Yule Ball in April (yes we are having a Yule Ball in April). Go to actual HPA chapter meeting. Go to Meeting of the Minds. Go home? Read for women in lit group project. Pass out.

Why did I just give a recap of my day you might ask? Because somewhere between walking from class to the Student Union and returning to my lovely abode at 10:30pm Wednesday, I LOST MY HEADPHONES!


NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. They are gone. Forever. And I have thrown things around my room attempting to find them with no avail. I'm pretty sure they fell out of my bag during the Meeting of the Minds, because at that meeting I had my stuff pretty much...well...everywhere. I mean it was not pretty. So now, I have no headphones. I cannot listen to music on my way to class AND I cannot finish watching Life Unexpected while my roommate sleeps through life. GAHHHHH.

Thankfully, life will go on. That's why there is a radio shack...which I will conveniently stop by on my way back from work tonight.

One more thing before I go. Today I had a ridiculously hard Poetry Quiz. I mean like the thing was a beast. And my professor, whom by the way I think is amazing, did NOT PREPARE US AT ALL. I heard most of the class walk out saying that they all failed and I am sad to say that I am among them. stupid stupid poetry...