Gratitude 223

This afternoon, I was introduced to Free Rice, a website that donates 10 grains of rice to the World Hunger Program with each correct answer in the games you can play. And such a clever way to improve your vocabulary! :) So far, I've donated 3,420 grains of rice...and added more wrinkles to my brain! Now when I waste time on the internet, I am actually being a productive member of society and helping to feed the hungry!


Katie's bridal shower was beautiful! The sweet Italian Rosaria, who hosted the shower was such a gracious host. And her house! It was like walking into an Italian villa! Yes, please! I told her I was moving in... haha! ;) Fabulous company, food, introducing Katie to the tradition of trying not to break the bows (she broke two...uh-oh! hehe!), and using my craftiness to assemble her bow/ribbon rehearsal bouquet. I should have taken a picture of it because it turned out pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. ;) I will get some at the actual rehearsal...  It was so great to hang out with my girls Katie, Caitie, and Rebekah, too! :) Such ridiculous car rides with Caitie and Bekah!

Today was a big to-do list of stuff, surprisingly most of which got accomplished. My first set of travels begin this Thursday, so I am stuck in a swirl of logistics. I love traveling, however sometimes, the logistical nightmare that typically accompanies a big (or even small) trip makes my brain hit overload, and I just end up with a headache. The more I go through the process, though, it does get easier...you skip all the nonsense steps and get straight to business but still...frustration is a common occurrence trying to get everything together.

I am getting pretty darn excited for the big Europe trip (however crazy an excursion it is)! I just found out today that I get to stay with my friend Levente in downtown Budapest while I'm there. I also get to take a side trip out to Kecskemét to see my friend Heather and hopefully a few others from the Institute. I will get to see my friend Mercedesz in Budapest, as well. AND...on my way to Budapest from Munich, I get to make a short stop in Vienna to catch up with Katrin and Martin. :) Going to be fabulous! I love my life! (Except for the fact that I have to get up at 4am, again, tomorrow to make a Skype call to Salzburg...oh well!)

Katie and Bry are in town to stay over for the next couple days for Katie's summer classes. Movie time and adventure day tomorrow...if the weather is good, it's off to see the butterflies, flowers, and glass sculptures at the garden conservatory! :) In the words of Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory, "What's life without whimsy?" ;)

From the minds and mouths of 4-year olds.

Gratitude 222
I came across this video when my Instant Messenger signed on the other day: 




This week held a lovely lunch with the darling Dr. Mathias and plotting out an audition trip to NYC with Tiffany...11-hour train ride here we come! haha! Tiffany was against it at first, but I finally convinced her how much easier it is. No extra stress...just 11 hours of occupying yourself with a book, card games, ipod, etc...and no crazy city traffic to deal with.  :)

Katie's bridal shower this weekend. Dress fittings next week. Then [hopefully] home for a few days before hitting the Big Apple! (Oh, yeah...and the continuous cycle of searching for that thing they call a "job"...)

Adventure to German Village

Gratitude 221
This afternoon, Katie, Bryan, and I took an adventure to The Book Loft in German Village. All I have to say is Superaffenturbospitzengeil! That place is sweet! I have no idea how I have lived here for four years and never once went there until now. You could seriously spend an ENTIRE day in there and STILL have more that you could see, look at, read, etc. Unfortunately, though, they did not have the travel guides/maps I need...back to Amazon searches! haha! ;) I did get some awesome poetry books though for super cheap. :)

Rules of the Terrace

Last night, Alexa, Q, and I went to see a college production of The Wedding Singer. That show is hysterical! It is much like the movie. I had never seen the musical but had listened to the music. Fabulous! (Okay, not everything or everyone, by any means, were "fabulous" in that production, but it was still very entertaining. Some of the performers were quite good, too. And for the cost of a canned good for charity, I'd say it was a great way to spend the evening.)

Before the show, Q came over for dinner. Q was looking for a poem for a new art song, so before dinner, though, we sat out on the terrace reading poetry, sipping a glass of wine, people watching, and listening to opera. Brilliant! :)

(Gratitude 220
It is rather enjoyable to observe the people on the street below, and I enjoy the occasional interaction between myself/those on the terrace with me and the passersby.) 

As we sat there, Q constantly kept asking questions about what was "allowed" on the terrace, assuming that there was a rule book or something for sitting out there. Oh, Q! (I think just to be a smart ass, I should post a list of absurd rules out there when he comes over again. haha!)

Birds are fearless.

Or so they seem, anyhow. This morning, I watched the sun light up the sky. I kept waking up last night, so at 5:30 in the morning, I found myself out on the terrace with a cup of tea, watching the sun come up. (I'd say the sunrise, but the trees obstruct the view of the horizon.) As I sat there, I found myself observing the birds flittering around. They dive, swoop, turn, and soar without a cause for care or concern. The birds are rather fascinating creatures to watch. :)

Not much has happened since the big graduation day. Lots of movie-watching, going for walks, cleaning the apartment (I even tackled my room! I know...I have even shocked myself!), running a few errands, practicing, and still on that job hunt...  :/

Chapel Choir Senior dinner with Lynda (now that we have graduated, our director insists that we address her by her first name.) at Buca di Beppos on Monday evening. Pretty fabulous! A four-hour chat at Cup O' Joe's with my friend Miss Koko. (Her name is Sarah, actually, but during her student teaching, the kids continually called her that...or Miss Coconut. Poor, Sarah!) And then sleepovers with Haley and Katie. :)

I've been perusing my travel books and surfing the web to sort out and finalize my travel plans for my two-week European excursion. :) Salzburg for the audition, then off to Munich for a few days, a day trip from Munich to Regensburg, then make my way across to Budapest for the rest of the time, with a day trip to Eger. How exciting!! Now just to finalize accommodations and reservations...

Gratitude 219
Boredom. Yes, even though it is boring (haha!), I am thankful for it...because I know after now, it will not happen very often again in my life. So I'll just embrace it for now. :)

A little more wonder...
This Clip Is Proof That Birds Are Secretly Composers

Commencement

Samantha D. Dearborn, B.M, Magna Cum Laude.  :) 

I can officially report that I did not fall flat on my face when I walked across the stage to receive my degree. haha! It was a fear, though...and I refused to wear my heels because I didn't need to heighten the odds.

After processing in (next to my friend Amanda...we joked about skipping in! hehe!), I was supposed to keep walking and make my way over to sing with the cover, however, we had these row bouncers or something that wouldn't let me go past my row, so I had to go down the whole row and walk all the way around.

As I stood with the choir waiting for our turn to sing, everything sunk in. This was it. It was real, and I was about to receive this degree I worked so hard for. I felt like I had entered a movie...too real to be for real. There was this moment when everything was in line...those that came before me and those that shall come after me...weird, I know, but it felt fully right. As well, I was making history for my family.

After we sang, I was making my way back to my seat and definitely tripped over the ramp to the stage and almost fell on my face then. Oh, boy! Then, I walked past my aisle and had to do a "Just kidding!" turn around as the president of the university was onstage speaking. Only me!

The keynote speaker was Kevin W. Sowers, president of Duke University Hospital and former graduate of Capital. I thought that it'd be blah, but he was awesome! He gave a fantastic speech on the power of who you are and the responsibility you hold to use that power fully and for what it is meant. He spoke of the heartache and fear that seemingly paralyzes you at moments in life...the times when you simply want to run away, but those are the times when you must stand strong and...

Smile though your heart is aching,
Smile even though it's breaking. 
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by,
if you Smile through your fear and sorrow,
Smile, and maybe tomorrow,
you'll see the sun come shining through, for you.
Light up your face with gladness,
hide every trace of sadness,
although a tear may be ever so near,
that's the time you must keep on trying,
Smile, what's the use of crying,
you'll find that life is still worthwhile,
if you just Smile.

Yes, he sang! And he was brilliant! At the beginning of his speech, he informed us that he began his time at Capital as a music major and then switched career paths to nursing. When he began talking about a gift Charlie Chaplin gave to people during the Great Depression to inspire hope, I knew instantly he was leading to this song, but I did not know how he would do it. Then, he sang. Definitely evident he was a music major! We were thoroughly impressed, and it just gave the speech that much more meaning. Thank you, Dr. Sowers! :)

Then came the conferring of degrees...and the long, nervous process of waiting for your turn. Eventually, the leading marshal was at my row, and we were walking to the stage. Eek! Soon, they announced, "Samantha D. Dearborn, Magna Cum Laude," and I was so giddy, I felt myself bubbling with bounciness, and I very nearly skipped over to receive my diploma from the university president. BUT...just in time, I remembered that that would most certainly increase my possibility of smacking my face on the stage. However, skipping across the stage would totally be something I would do. haha! That would have made history, too...but it also would have embarrassed my friend Bradley, whom I was sitting beside the whole time. haha! Oh, Bradley!

So...here I am now, college graduate, Capital alumna! Wow. That's definitely weird. haha! I get to wear my cute alumni sweatshirt now, though! ;) Dinner at Olive Garden with Mom and Dad and now just relaxing. All this excitement today has been exhausting.   


Gratitude 218
This very pretty, very expensive, very important piece of paper:

P.S. I must add...I just love how attractive these fabulous mortar board caps make your hair look! NOT! haha! 

GRADUATION DAY!!!

In just a few short hours (okay...more like 7), I will have in my hand my Bachelor of Music. A college graduate. The first in my family. :) For some reason, I can't stop myself from this feeling that my life is suddenly turning into the movie Post Grad..."Everyone say over-priced education"! haha!

I put on my robe last night to test it with the length and neckline of my dress...Eek! Definitely weird, but there is an overwhelming sense of accomplishment that I did it! The years seemed quick yet an eternity...time before college was another lifetime ago. There were definitely times I was ready to quit, give it up, forget about it, scream, cry, etc. (the screaming and crying actually did happen), but somehow I overcame all that.

And now I stand today (actually, I am sitting currently), in a pretty dress, sitting in the solitude of the morning and getting ready for the day, nervous, excited, and set for the adventures of today. I have this fear, however, that I will be the one that trips going across the stage to receive my diploma and fall flat on my face. haha! I'm pretty sure I'll laugh if I do. Also...the ceremony is 3 hours long...with no potty breaks...better limit that water intake until after the ceremony! haha!

I booked the tickets!

I finally got the guts to hit the purchase button on the plane tickets to Europe! So regardless, I am going! And yes, I am totally psychotic, and I don't know how my family puts up with me and goes along with my craziness. Nonetheless, June 27th, I shall be flying to Munich, catching a train to Salzburg, and chilling there for a few days. Then, it's gallivanting around the Austria/Germany/Switzerland/possibly northern Italy area and making my way over to Budapest, where I'll spend a few days and then fly back home. :)

Last night was the recording session with choir...we were there for six hours...oy vey! BUT we got it all done and didn't have to come in, again, this morning thankfully!

Today was a brunch with Lynn, graduation rehearsal!!, university president's picnic, having a blast with some of my friends, and dinner and a show with Chad, Tracy and Q. Epic--and very eventful--day!

Off to bed for some rest...singing at Baccalaureate in the a.m., brunch with Mom and Dad, and then it's graduation time! Eek!

Gratitude 217
Today. :) 

In 2 days...

...I will be graduating with magna cum laude honors!
(Gratitude 216) 
(That's like the silver medal in graduation honors.)
Yay! :)

Gratitude 215

Last night, I popped over to my friend Sarah's campus dorm to pester her because I had nothing else to do. Oh, the madness that ensued! haha! We ended up laying out by the fountains on the plaza at midnight, looking at the stars (the ones that weren't obscured by the city lights), giggling like maniacs, chatting with passersby, and being highly amused by watching this drunk girl on the other side of the plaza going crazy. It was pretty funny. :)