Graduation

Tonight was the Commencement ceremony for the Class of 2008. First of all, I have a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that it's been a year since I was on that stage, in those robes, in their shoes. The past year has been one of many ups and downs and while the days sometimes seem to trudge on in the slow procession toward the End, when compacted, they seem to encompass no time at all. In short, time flies.

Today was a beautiful day: the perfect day for a Graduation ceremony. It wasn't nearly as hot as the 89-degree scorcher we had to endure one year ago. A light breeze kept the air in the auditorium circulating as the speeches were given and the the diplomas dispersed. The feeling of seeing your friends, these people who you have come to know and love so deeply taking this huge step in their lives, walking the same path that you walked, is a strange feeling. It seems to me like a very delayed reaction. Like I am witnessing an event that should have already happened, from a different point of view, on a different date. For me, Graduation means reflection on all the events that brought us where we are today. None of us are the same as when we started...

Heidi was the one I knew first. She and I rode the same bus to and from Buckeye Valley East. I first came to know her as the girl who rode my bus and hated me. In those days, we were both a little too outspoken and rubbed one another the wrong way, I guess. Her brother once threatened to break my glasses which didn't help in the cementing of our close relationship. For a few years, I was convinced that we would never get along and that was that. But, like all things, people change with time. High school brought us together through band. The long bus rides to and from away games opened up a side to her I'd never had the chance to see. It's amazing how much you can learn about (and from) someone by simply opening your ears and listening to what they have to say. Over the years, we've become closer and closer and today I consider her one of my good friends. Good thing the desire to break glasses isn't genetic.


Davey was second, although he was David then. He and I go way back, sometimes a little further than I'd like to admit. Both pupils anointed by the fonts of knowledge maintained within the glittering halls of Buckeye Valleys North and East, our paths ran parallel for some time until, in 1998, he and I wound up as teammates for a Destination Imagination competition. Yes, we were that cool. Our skit told the tale of one Timmy Tomato, portrayed flawlessly by Mr. Hyer who was bestowed the role of the fearless fruit because of his persistently rosy complexion. While the acting was, of course, top notch, the rest of our skit fell short in many ways as we didn't even rank that year. Oh well. On to bigger and better arenas. In high school and during band, I was able to get to know this hell-bent enigma on a more personal level. He and I became close through no notable series of events, it just sort of happened, as many of the best friendships do.

Lee was the quintessential Cub Scout. Back in the days of old when I was a shrimpy little Scout myself, Lee was always at the head of the pack: tying knots, baking cakes, selling popcorn, everything a good Cub Scout should be doing. If I remember correctly, we were both members of the Mighty Pack 94 and often ran into one another during the many Scouting social events. If Lee was anything, he was helpful. He was always there to point others in the right direction, a job that serves him well considering he has one of the most accurate moral compasses I've ever seen. As with Heidi and Davey, I got to know Lee better through band and in student council in high school. As always, he was the epitome of chivalry, the master at opening doors and laying jackets over mud puddles and, just as I had remembered, he was always ready at a moment's notice should adventure or the stray shenanigan come to call. To this day, few people have matched the personal values of Mr. Zimmer and I find it hard to believe many ever will.

For me, Anna was always "Helen's sister". I'd seen her here and there at Buckeye Valley North but never really took the opportunity to get to know her, a folly I regret considering Anna is perhaps the most high-spirited, uplifting soul ever to come from the Honorable village of Radnor. Band brought us together and Florida brought us close. She was right there with us as we headed off to the wrong park in Universal Studios. My first impression of Anna was being struck by her talent at music. As a freshman, she could far outplay many of the upperclassmen trumpeters. I remember noticing how she held her instrument straight and played with confidence, even as a freshman. That kind of musical mettle is hard to come by especially in the beginning. Throughout high school I had the pleasure of playing alongside Anna in the marching band, and the symphonic band, and concert band, and pep band, and pit band and the Visions combo. Music radiates from her personality and lifts the spirits of those who allow themselves to listen, an enviable trait by any means.

Last is Casey. I find it ironic that the person I most connect with, the one with whom I share so many interests and whose company I most enjoy is the one I've known the least amount of time. Casey is a rare breed. His often reserved personality is speckled with eccentricities which, coupled with his wry sense of humor, make him a generally fun guy to be around. As a freshman, I referred to him as "Army boy" due largely in part to the combat boots, camouflage pants and Under Armor he would wear on a regular basis. Case is tough. He's willing to run like no tomorrow to uphold his unalienable right to chew gum. He'll gladly scale any building to retrieve a lost Frisbee and he makes a conscious effort to carry (at once and at a minimum) three times as many chairs to and from the pep band alcove as anybody else. In the few years I've had to get to know him, though, I've learned that tough-as-nails Casey has the same fears, the same vulnerabilities and the same faults as any of us. What's remarkable is that, not matter what's going on beneath the surface, Casey will always put everyone else's needs before his own. Such selflessness is the rarest of commodities these days. Unfortunately I had to fulfill an annoying obligation called college just as I was getting to know Casey but I'm hopeful that we'll be able to pick up where we left off nearly 365 days ago in the midst of a great, lasting friendship.

I'm not sure if the graduates (we can't call them Seniors anymore) know just what's waiting for them as they head off to college, I know I was barely ready for what laid in store for me, but I am certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that they will do wonders wherever they go. This caliber of friend is rare and I know I am blessed to have the honor of calling such people my best friends.

Best of luck Heidi, Davey, Lee, Anna, Casey and the rest of the Class of 2008.
If you ever want to catch up, you know where to find me.



EDIT: This song came through my Shuffle just as I published this post. Coincidence? I think not.

Employed

Woah. It feels good to finally have enough time and energy to actually make a post. A lot has happened since my last post from Chicago, including my becoming very ill for the remainder of my Spring Break trip (hence the distinct drop in posts).

School is out and I am home from CCAD for almost four months. It feels great to have one year of college under my belt but leaving was just as hard as coming (but for different, almost opposite reasons). Today I start work at the Graphic Stitch in Marysville. My job is as a sort of in-house designer, workman, extra-set-of-hands. It feels nice to be offered money for the things that I would be doing anyway and the money will certainly come in handy; I'm saving up for a Study Abroad semester in England, Junior year.

I'm off. There will be a longer, more in depth post dealing with by prolonged absence and my feelings on BV's next graduating class soon.

What I've Been Up To

Man, it's been almost a month since my last post. Sorry about that. First semester is over and I'm back home for a solid month of Christmas break. The last few weeks of class were busy ones, hence the obvious lack of blogging. Final at Art school are a little different than those at State school. They're not written tests (Except for Art History) but large, multi-step projects due the last week of school. In all honesty, finals week wasn't as bad as I'd imagined it would be. The work load stayed about the same and after each class we thrived on the feeling that we were one step closer to Christmas. I managed to squeak out of all of my classes with an A- or higher (except for Color Concept, the class which is the absolute bane of my existence). I made the President's list, which I'm pretty proud of, and I'm actually excited to go back to school (almost exclusively because I moved to the fourth floor and will now be living with people who actually grasp the concepts of sanitation and respect).
So far, break has been everything I'd hoped it would be. I made it to the second pep band game of the year and had fun catching up with everyone there. I gazed upon the glorious thing that is the iPhone as Mark was texting Zandra during the game. The band phoned in an expertly arranged version of "The Birthday Song" to Mr. Eastham as he sat at home, no doubt glad to be away from the madness for once.
We had Part 1 of our many Christmases Saturday and I managed to rake in a few dollars as well as a damn cool book about the concepts and making of the Pirates of the Caribbean films. Sunday, I had the distinct pleasure of attending my best friend Casey's Eagle Court of Honor ceremony. Seeing all the pictures and hearing the stories made me wish more than I ever had before that I'd stuck it out in the scouting program. Although, from what I hear, Case is glad to be able to finish that chapter of his life.
Tuesday, a bunch of us graduates met up at Madeline's for a day of Christmas movie madness and our usual over-the-top brand of merriment. We were at BV as class let out and it was awesome to see the old crowd again. After school we headed to that most-familiar of meeting places, the Mean Bean, for some caffeine and casual conversation.
Being with the people you love the most has a way of reaffirming your faith.With them, there are no worries, no deadlines, no heartache, just pure love and friendship, the kind that can withstand months apart and even the most trying times. With them, all is well in the world again. Thank God.

Friend Requests

Every once in a while, I'll get a little notice on my Facebook homepage saying I have a new friend request. When I first see this notice my first reaction is "Yes! I wonder who finally got a Facebook," and for the first few months that reaction was the most common one. But these days, now that everyone and their dog has a Facebook profile, friend requests are scarce and when they do happen, they are usually from random people at school. Not that I have anything against random people asking me to be their friend. I consider myself a friendly person so, by all means, the more the merrier but I have to wonder, does passing on the way to Color Concept constitute friendship? Friendship in general has always been a tough subject for me. In some instances, I can be quite the extrovert. This usually happens when I am very comfortable with where I am and who I'm with. In other instances, I stay very contained and quiet.
In elementary school, I never really had a true, undeniable group of friends. I would float from clique to clique, never really fitting in with any of them. I was always on the outside of the "cool" circle but too "cool" to be accepted in the lower classes. I wasn't very fast, I hated running more that five or ten feet and I couldn't kick a kickball to save my life so friendship through sports was definitely out. By middle school, I had become a lot more outgoing, especially by eighth grade. By that time, I thought I knew who I wanted to be, and who I wanted to be with, unfortunately that person was a jerk and those people were even worse. By high school, and freshman band camp, the real me began to come into the light. Here were people who acted like me, laughed with me and genuinely wanted to be around me, an entirely new concept, to say the least.
I was (and remain to this day) apprehensive. I have a hard time justifying to myself why anyone would want to become good friends with me. When I look in the mirror, I see nothing outstanding and when I set down the mirror and look even deeper, I just see a quiet perfectionist who likes film scores, art, and Chipotle: nothing extraordinary. And yet I was surrounded by so many awesome people, people who wanted to call me friend and I often caught myself asking "why?" By my senior year of high school, my circle of friends had grown ten-fold and had come to include a singer, a dancer, a painter, a metalhead, three boyscouts, two sisters, two "sisters", a techie, a Trekkie, and a whole group of people who willingly shared parents. Looking back, I still can't believe how lucky I am. These people have come to mean so much to me, living life without them right here beside me has become a lackluster, if not unpleasant experience. Luckily, college has provided an entirely new set of friend requests to accept and spending my days with them has eased the pain of being torn from my old circle. For a while I was worried that making new friends would mean losing old ones but I have since proven that theory wrong. Actually, even from miles apart, several of my old friends have become as close as family, a fact by which I am honored and humbled. I still wonder why.

Coming Home

I'm typically not one to use song lyrics in my posts but I heard this during the ride to Delaware and felt that it deserved inclusion:

Home
Chris Daughtry

I'm staring out into the night,
Trying to hide the pain.
I'm going to the place where love
And feeling good don't ever cost a thing.
And the pain you feel's a different kind of pain.

I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from,
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old,
So I'm going home.
Well I'm going home.

The miles are getting longer, it seems,
The closer I get to you.
I've not always been the best man or friend for you.
But your love remain true and I don't know why.
You always seem to give me another try.

So I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from,
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old,
So I'm going home.
I'm going home.

Be careful what you wish for,
'Cause you just might get it all.
You just might get it all,
And then some you don't want.
Be careful what you wish for,
'Cause you just might get it all.
You just might get it all, yeah.

BV's Homecoming was this weekend and while my Homecoming experience wasn't quite as emotional as it could have been (considering I've been to five other BV games this year) I was still very glad to be there. I've been wrestling with a certain amount of uneasiness about leaving campus on the weekends but I think I've pinned down an answer. One of the reasons I chose CCAD was because it was close to home; otherwise, why not Pittsburgh or Cleveland or Cincinnati? When your college is less than an hour from your hometown, why shouldn't you take advantage of the opportunity to see your friends, your family and sleep in your own bed? Sure, sure, some will argue that I'm not getting the real 'college experience,' and to that I say, fine. I'll live.

I live on campus Monday through Friday. I know what goes on. It's all fine-and-dandy, but I am the kind of person who needs an escape, downtime, quiet (not-to-mention something to look forward to each week). And so, I spend the weekends at home. This is not to say that I will always go home. As a matter of fact, the one weekend out the entire year that I would like to share with my BV friends (the weekend of Casey's, Anna's, Heidi's, Lee's, Davy's, Mark's, Zandra's, Emily's, Anita's and all the other's Senior Show) will be spent in Columbus, away from everyone. I am not happy. I wish there was some way I could change things.

Tonight, however, was a very happy night. I marched halftime, this time as a part of the BVHS Alumni Band it what was the last BV football game I will see this year. It's a a strange feeling being on the inside of the 'B', if you know what I mean. As always, it was great to get to talk with everyone and it was greater to be able to play in the stands again. I miss it so much. Nichole and Nathan came home from Bowling Green, Madeline from Baldwin-Wallace and Tawni from Mount Vernon Nazarene (Carie and Megan basically walked from OWU). It was so good to see them too. Something about being with 'the old crowd' makes everything (even the Everest-sized heap of homework waiting to be done) seem okay. Several notable people were, sadly, not there tonight, the first of which is Melissa. Going to school ten hours away from Ohio makes coming home a near impossibility but we all miss her and can't wait to see her home for Christmas, if not sooner. Homer and Helen were both at school because of big games the next day (football and soccer, respectively) and Davy is recovering from knee surgery and will, regrettably, be out-of-commission for the rest of marching season.

After the game (which BV won, by the way), we went to Pizza Hut and partook in the now-customary, post-game revelry. It is good to know that tradition has not died and that these happy memories will still made, even after we've all graduated. And as for tradition, the next time the 'B' revolves, Anna, Carie, Casey, David, Davy, Emily, Heidi, Lee, Madeline, Mark, Megan, Melissa, Nathan, Nichole, Tawni, Zandra and I may just be marching, side-by-side, in the center.

Current Status: Working

Sorry it's been forever. Things are teetering on the edge of insanity at this point and finding time to blog is difficult. The past few weeks have been good ones. I'm meeting people, which, about a month ago, I had no real desire to do. What I love about CCAD's Foundation Studies year is that everyone suffers through the same hellish projects. We can sympathize with each other when we mess up, rejoice with each other when we finish a particularly grueling assignment and struggle through the process together. It's strange how much bonding can be done over a few odd pieces of wood or a drawing of a barn.
Last week was a doozie. The workload took a dramatic surge upward and just at the time when I needed a little free time. My parents bought me tickets to see John Williams conduct the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and the show was Wednesday. I wanted that night to be as stress-free as possible. This meant cramming two-days worth of work, an enormous 2D Design project, drawing assignment, 3D Design project and Digital Design/Type project into the span of one night. At one point I thought my eyes were going to fall out of my skull in protest but, after many, many hours of work, I finished and God was that feeling gratifying. The concert was amazing. I took my friend Ashley and we had a great time being nerds. The pizza we ordered afterward was some of the best tasting food I had ever ingested simply because I hadn't eaten since 8 o'clock that morning.
I spent the weekend in the peace and quiet of my own back yard. I love fall and sitting out beneath the changing trees. The peace of home is such a contrast to the non-stop action of school and, for me at least, it's a necessity. I watched Emily and the rest of the marching band compete in their first-ever band festival hosted by North Union High School. They looked so great and I am still very proud of them. As a group, they sounded great even while missing several key players (namely Casey who is currently recovering from a particularly nasty bout with mono and Davy who took a rather unpleasant spill during school and injured his knee. Guys, we're all thinking about you and hoping you get better soon).
Other than that, my life has consisted of working, eating and sleeping, one of which I am looking forward to doing now.

Note to those who are not attending school due to illness or immobilization and who wish to talk, I'm free every day from 11 o'clock to 12:15; IM me or call, whatever.

Miss you.

Brown and Gold Forever

I am home again this weekend. I had convinced myself that I wasn't going to go to the game tonight, that I was going to let them have their space, let them make their own memories, but the thought of missing out on seeing everyone tore holes in my stomach, heart and soul, so I went. I've said it before, and I'm sure by now it's getting redundant: I love the atmosphere of a Friday night football game. I helped mom sell sweatshirts today and at one point we needed a role of masking tape to hang up the pricing signs so I set off to find some. Walking around, I was reminded profoundly of a Xanga post I made a little over a year ago:

It's a Friday night. The sun is setting slowly in the west. You step out of the school and stare at the football stadium. On the press box is a large new sign with the words " Buckeye Valley High School: Home of the Fighting Barons" spread across a huge brown and gold shield. Flying from the newly erected stadium lights are dozens of gold banners each fluttering gently in the late August air. On the chain-link fences hang signs of brown and gold, displaying spirited words of inspiration and pride. In the parking lot are hundreds of cars, each displaying a window flag or a bumper sticker with the brown and gold shield and the words, "BV's teams will forever fight for Victory". As you walk into the stadium itself you see hundreds, maybe thousands of people wearing brilliant gold shirts and brown and gold scarves and hats. A group of students waves a giant flag with the shield emblazoned across the center. Looking around in amazement, you realize that not only is the stadium clad in brown and gold but the entire area. The lampposts surrounding the stadium and the middle school proudly display banners that welcome the visitors to Baron Country. Children wave small flags and students twirl bright gold towels frantically above their heads. You are called to attention (because if you're reading this you are most likely in the Band) and at the command there is a resounding roar from the crowd as the cadence starts and you march proudly onto the field. You pass Mrs. Sturni who is cheering frantically and waving a gold towel like a old-fashioned handkerchief. You can't help but smile. You breath a deep breath of warm air, smelling the cooking hamburgers and hot dogs, savoring the memory. As you step onto the field, it hits you: you are a senior and this is your last, first football game. The roar of the crowd dies away as you begin to play the alma mater. The crowd is singing along. Pride radiates from you and everyone around you. You are home.

I was thrilled to see how close BV is coming to this ideal. There was more gold in the stands tonight than ever before, people had their faces painted, they clapped for the fight song. Our class gift was a series of pennant-flags for the top of the press box representing the schools in our district and to see them fluttering in the breeze made me feel a deep sense of accomplishment and happiness. I was pleased to see so many people wearing the sweatshirts I designed for the show-choir. I think people are finally beginning to understand that supporting your school by wearing the colors is not only acceptable, it's encouraged.

Wading through past Xanga posts is like taking a sudden trip back in time. For the most part, my posts were lame, emo, whining sessions and so reading them is depressing, yes, but oddly hilarious. Hindsight is 20-20, so they say, and looking back at all the trivial things I usually wrote about makes me sick. In my search for the above post I did come across one prophetic excerpt from the night of our last football game as seniors:

It gave me the warm-fuzzies when they applauded us on the bus ride home. Those juniors are something else. I sure am going to miss them.

Truer words were never written. I think about them every day.

I talked to Melissa today, which lifted my spirits considerably. She and I are about the same, emotionally speaking. We feel the same way about a lot of things and it is great to talk to someone who you know, without a doubt, understands the way you are feeling. I miss her too.

After the game, we went to Pizza Hut for some "just-like-old-times" chitchat. I love spending time with some of the people I was just getting to know, namely Emily, Anita and Mick. They are great kids and I love their enthusiasm and senses of humor. I brought up the fact that I can't wait for Pep Band season because I will be able to make it to quite a few games during my month-long Christmas break. I love that atmosphere too.

Well, this post is much longer than I wanted it to be, and it lacks a clear theme; but who cares? Not me.

Miss you all. Stay in touch. See you sometime.

Scarlet and Gray

Saturday was the Ohio State game versus Akron. Dad and I left early this morning to meet Dave and his friends, and get seats for the Skull Session. Unfortunately, they weren't able to get in to see the rehearsal; they close the gates once the show starts. The band sounded great, as usual. There's something breathtaking about seeing such a legendary group live, and in person. As far as games go, this one was okay. The Buckeye's didn't get their shit in gear until after halftime but luckily the weather improved just as much as the team after the break. It was nice to see David, and to meet his new Akron friends. More than anything else, I wish CCAD had some kind of music program. I have found a few people who were in the bands at their respective high school s but for the most part, they are few and far between.

Speaking of band, Sunday was the All-Horse Parade through Delaware. I met Carie and her friend Lauren on the lawn of the Court House building and we watched with great pride as our band marched by. After the initial passing, Carie and I stalked the band all the way back to the fairgrounds where they stopped to enjoy their annual Post-Parade Picnic. Seeing everyone was great. I can't figure out why, but being away from those people, (Casey, Anna, Davy, Emily, Zandra, Mark and Lee in particular) for a few days is like a month for me. I miss them all a lot but swell up with pride when I see how well they are leading the band.

I came back to CCAD Sunday night to piles and piles of homework. It's getting crazy now but through all the madness I'll keep you updated here. Tomorrows the big 1-8! I'm pretty excited! I'm looking forward to winning the lottery with the LOST numbers, and turning down my first legal cigarette!

Anyway, things are good here. I still miss you. Keep in touch. See you later.

Stretch, Yawn; Repeat As Needed.

This is morning was one of those curse-the-alarm-clock, stub-your-toe, shampoo-in-the eyes kind of mornings. I didn't make it to bed until 1:00 last night so the 6:00 alarm seemed t0 c0me out of nowhere in the middle of the night. I did manage however, to finish my four sketchbook pages which are due today. Thursdays suck for me: 2D Design, Drawing and Art History. I bought my mammoth, eight-pound Art History book yesterday for an account-killing one-hundred twenty-two dollars. I honestly think that if you can return the book at the end of the year, in good condition, they should give at least some of that money back.

I can feel the workload growing already, and they keep telling us that our current assignments are the easiest we'll ever see. This is going to be rough. I miss jazz band; I had "On Green Dolphin Street" stuck in my head for the majority of Digital Design yesterday. I miss the music, the relaxing, anything-goes atmosphere but most of all, I miss the people.

Thanks to Emily for my fantastic Chipotle gift card, complete with "Shoes" parody.
Good Luck to Heidi in her final Cross Country meet.
Good luck to Anna, Casey, Davy, Emily, Heidi, Lee and everyone else for Friday night. You guys have one hell of a show put together and I am really proud.

To everyone else, miss you all. Stay in touch. See you later.

Reckless Reminiscing

According to the calendar, I have been in school now for over a week. In that period of seven days, a lot has happened and a lot hasn't. I have made quite a few friends and I will be glad to have them by my side in the next weeks and months. I have started to dig out my place in the world, filling my space with as many memories of home as will fit. My classes are great. It is a good feeling to be doing what you love each night for homework: no equations, no critical analysis. I am happy school. Each day is brighter than the next and the future glints vaguely ahead. I don't know where I am going, I just know I'm on my way.

I went home this weekend. Friday night was Buckeye Valley's first home game. I'm not sure what it is but something about the atmosphere of a football game brings me home to place where I could stay forever. Surrounded by familiar faces, smiles, laughter, I am at peace with myself, with the world. Sounds nice, huh?

That's probably a little over-dramatic, but I do love it. I was never one of those people who hated high school. Quite the opposite, really. I loved high school. I liked the intense sense of community, of knowing everyone you passed in the hallway. I loved knowing all the teachers, what they liked, what they didn't. I liked pep rallies. That's right, I said it. I liked what they stood for, a unquestioned sense of pride, of shared excitement and spirit; it's too bad only three other people shared that sentiment. I liked being able to make a difference, to share an idea and see it come to fruition a few weeks later. I liked having a purpose, not to say I don't have purpose now, I'm just not sure what it is at this point.

Before long, the tide will begin to turn. I will work my way into this new and different community. I will get to know my teachers, what they like, what they don't. There are no sports at CCAD and therefore no pep rallies but that doesn't mean there shouldn't be school spirit. Maybe that could become my purpose here. Maybe I could work, like I did at BV, to bolster student pride, share my ideas and see them come to fruition. Maybe, someday.

Until then, I make my way to class each day, head down, homework done. I make my way back, check my phone, my Facebook, IM and email in hopes that someone has left some kind of message. Be the one to brighten my day, leave me something. Thanks.

Miss you all. Stay in touch. See you later.

Thirteen - Seven

BV played their first game of the season tonight against Galion. First of all, I propose that Mike Goebel personally pay for the tank of gas it took to drive to GHS. It's his fault, after all, that BV no longer plays Hayes at the beginning of each season (but that will all change, soon). It was hot, ninety-three degrees at kickoff. By the time dad and I found a parking spot, BV had already scored. It was an odd feeling to hear the fight-song from afar, but it sounded good and I was happy.

For the first game of the season and fresh from a brutally hot two weeks at camp, the band sounded great. Three sousaphones and something like five trombones can work wonders for a band their size. I was pleasantly surprised at how many fellow graduates I saw sitting in the stands and at how warmly I was welcomed. Mattea is doing great as Field Commandress (I like that term) and it seems as though the rest of the band thinks so to. I feel like a proud parent. It was great to see Casey, Anna, Heidi, Davey and Lee one last time before the move. We sat through the second half together "watching the game" and coaxing one of the field lights to catch fire (it did send sparks raining down onto Galion's band, after which they moved seats). I also had a laugh with Zandra, Emily and Anita about Kirby apparently "liking your mama." You had to be there. I lamented the loss of all the "Pirates" music I had arranged and saved on my now-dead computer with Mick. He's a great kid and really talented. I also had the rare chance of seeing a wizard's duel behind the concession stands during which Emily Expeliarmused Davey even after having just been AK'd by him. You had to be there for that too.

The game was delayed for about forty-five minutes do to the looming threat of storms that never came. I was glad, it was a prime opportunity for some last-minute banter amongst friends. BV won, by the way, thirteen - seven. Go Barons.

Unfortunately the evening ended on a less-than-happy note. Andrew was taken to Marion Hospital after passing out on the bus ride home. He had evidently been given permission to march but the strain and lack of water had proven too much. As much as he can annoy me at times, I do hope he's okay and that he realizes his health and safety should come first. The bus pulled into the high school at 12:30-something and everyone piled off. The goodbyes were as strained and as awkward as usual but the facts are beginning to sink in: Today's the day.

My next post will be from the campus of the Columbus College of Art & Design...God help me.
Miss you all. Stay in touch. See you soon.

Bridges

It sounds so cliché, "I am about to begin a new chapter of my life, to do new things, go new places and make new friends," but it's true. But to be perfectly honest, I like the chapter I'm in right now just fine, thank you. I am ready to start school, to do what I love, to learn and grow. I am even looking somewhat forward to living on-campus, close to my school and its resources. I am excited for the classes, to see how different they are and to find a routine again. I'm not nervous about school anymore. I will be fine, I'm sure.

That being said, I can't help but ask myself, is it selfish that the thing I want more than anything is for time to stop? Is it wrong that so many of my best friends are still in high school? Is it wrong for me to still be around? I don't mean to intrude or seem pathetic but it feels like I am. I used to hate it when graduates would hang around with us; they were lame. Why am I any different? I almost wish someone would call me out, tell me to get lost, to go home, so I could at least know that I'm not wanted, so I can begin to move on. I like to think I'm wanted, and people say that I am, but if it's true, why do I feel so guilty?

I guess, like everyone, I am going to have to let go. But letting go means being swept off into the abyss, far from the people and places I know and love. What's worse is that I will not far from home, less than 45 minutes away: close enough to see everyone once-in-a-while, but too far to keep some bridges from crumbling. And it's the bridges I'm worried most about crumbling (ironically, some of the newest ones) that I want most to maintain.

Come September we will all be busy, fitting in to weird, new places or enjoying our time in old, familiar ones but I am asking, as a friend who will be checking his inbox by the hour, please write. Even if it's just a few sentences, that contact will keep me sane and will keep even the most strained bridges from breaking.

The Agony of Defeat

I'm not going to sulk. It failed, by a lot. Oh well. I guess I was right in assuming that no matter how big the need, some people just can't find it in themselves to give a little for the greater good. It's a shame, really.

The End.

BV Horizon

Well folks, it's up. The new BV website design took it's first breath of fresh air about three hours ago after being cooped up in my PC for more than two months. It is entitled BV Horizon because, from a visual standpoint it is much cleaner, much clearer as if you were standing on a mountaintop gazing off into the horizon. Ha! What a load of crap. I named it that because it sounded cool (sort of like Windows Vista).

Naming aside, I really hope you like what we've been able to cook up. The look is definitely different but better, I think. We're still converting some pages to the new style but all-in-all, things are looking good. If, while poking around, you come across anything that doesn't work or is wrong or missing, you can bypass the Feedback Form and come straight to me through the comments of this post. A little praise wouldn't hurt either.

We need content, bad. So if you (or your parents, or anyone you know for that matter) would like to become a regular contributor to the site, please let me know. This means you would send us pictures, briefs, game scores, concert dates; you name it, we need it. Even if it means a few pictures and the score from the football games each week, any help is appreciated immensely.

So, browse around, try the BVSearch, check for spelling mistakes (!) but most of all, don't be afraid to have some pride in your school.

True Colors

In case you've been living under a rock: BV's Bond Issue is going back on the ballot August 7.

If you know me, or my family, you know that we are ardent supporters of the bond. It's not that we're particularly passionate about BV because, realistically, we stand to gain nothing should it pass or loose, should it fail. It is simply written into our code to never vote against a school; my grandma has given me this same, sound advice dozens of times.

It's common knowledge that schools in America do not receive nearly enough support from the government. Evidently there are much more important issues to be dealt with. But I ask you, what is more important that ensuring that the doctors, scientists, engineers and artists of tomorrow receive an education that they can be proud of, one that that can stack up against that of other countries? Nothing. And so we will vote yes.

I've talked with many people about their stance on bond and honestly, the opinions scare me. Many have made the decision to oppose the bond based purely off of personal grudges against teachers and administrators. They say that BV doesn't deserve it. This boggles my mind. How can anyone say that Buckeye Valley, a district that has gone so long without any real support from the community, that has had to make do with so little and yet has managed to defy the odds and produce the highest test scores in the region, doesn't deserve for this bond to pass?

But forget all that. They will be voting no because Johnny wasn't played enough in basketball and Susie didn't make the cheer squad. People, this is about more than sports. This is about showing the students, the average students who come to school just to learn, not to be the captain of the football team, that we believe in them. Voting no says that those average kids aren't worth the time of day. They can study in the dark for all we care, just as long as Susie gets captain of the cheerleaders.

I just don't get it.

If you can, show your true colors August 7. Vote Yes! for the BV Bond Issue.

The First Of Many

First of all, welcome to my Blog.

Second of all, I looked at the calendar today and realized that in less than one month I will be in college. The Columbus College of Art and Design (Dorm Room 897 to be specific) will, from that point on, be my home. Scary thoughts ran through my mind at that thought. I'm excited for school, to be honest, for the change in tempo and scenery. I can only hope that I will meet people of the same caliber there that I have had the pleasure of meeting here, people who aren't so caught-up in themselves that they forget to take a step back and enjoy the moment, people who aren't interested in living the crazy-life just because it's available, people who have the same doubts, the same fears, the same passions as me. Can such people exist at an Art school? We'll see.

This summer has been spent either on the computer (much to the dismay of my parents), in the movie theater, or in bed and that's the way I like it. The computer part involves a lot of things: Desperate attempts to maintain contact with all-too-distant friends, working on a complete re-design for my (grade)school website, working on various design odd-jobs and Potter. This being the Summer of Seven, a large portion of my time has been spent reading, writing, talking and hearing about my favorite book series. I had the amazing good fortune of stumbling across The Leaky Cauldron about four years ago in my desperate search for answers after finishing Goblet of Fire. It has since then become not only my homepage but a fantastic second family for me. Now that Deathly Hallows is out, I hope that family can stay intact; but there's a whole other post there.

I'm liking this idea of a true Blog. Hope you are too.