Big Update

July was an exhausting but amazing month. I was never home for more than 48 hours at a time, except for when I was hosting people here. I started the month in Texas babysitting my 5 cousins with my mom - Matthew, Age 9, Juliana, age 6, twins Amelia and Gracie, age 4, and William, age 2 and a half. William is also my godson, and I'm mildly obsessed with him. My mom and I were in charge of these kids for 5 days straight, 24 hours a day, and I feel like a I got a big dose of "this is what it's like to be a parent, and it's REALLY, REALLY HARD." The kids were a ton of work, but so, so cute. Whenever we went out, people seemed to think that the three youngest were my kids - understandably, too, because they all look remarkably like me.

Amelia and Gracie:

William:

After Texas, I had the party at my house for a weekend, which was lots of fun! As always, I love seeing you guys.

A couple of days after that, I left to visit a family friend in the hospital, then to Conn to pick up some camera equipment, and then up to my summer camp in NH for a few days to film my first assignment for Chapman. A week later, I spent a night at Conn so I could edit the whole thing together in less than two days. I'm exaggerating my accomplishment, though, as it's only a two- minute piece. I am, however, really proud of how it came out, and I also had an amazing time returning to camp for a little while. It really made me realize how badly I want to go back and how much I've missed it, so I'm hoping I can go back and be a counselor in two years, once I finish grad school. Good to see I'm making big goals for myself, right?

Anyway, from NH I went to a Hanson concert in Providence. I then went home for a day and then spent the next day in the city, first seeing a friend fron Conn who graduated last year (Michelle Ghali), and then getting dinner with Justin. Then, on Tuesday, I went down to NJ for a John Mayer/ Ben Folds concert, which was amazing but nothing compared to the Hanson concerts that sandwiched it - the next day, I went to another Hanson concert, this time in NYC. I've never been to more than one Hanson concert in the same tour before, which made this a really fun and unique experience.

I wish I could explain to you guys just what they mean to me, but all anyone ever seems to get from my love for them is that they're my favorite band. But it was cool - at the concert, Taylor made a comment about how the fans at the concerts have gone from the many at the time of "MMMBop" to the few now, with the music they've progressed to, and it hit me - they've been in my life (and a big part of it, at that) for over ten years. Throughout moving when I was in middle school, finding myself in high school, starting and finishing college, figuring out just what I want to do with my life, and deciding to head to graduate school out in California, they've been the most consistent part of my life other than my family. Their concerts - more specifically, the band itself - bring me to a level of happiness that I find in very few other places. Directing plays, reading Harry Potter, and sharing great times with my best friends and family are the only things that compare.

A few pictures of the band, since I'd like to think you're all curious about these three boys I love so much (who are, incidentally, all married and 2 with children, so yes, they're older now and obviously they're still a band/ still around, so please spare me from the stupid questions):

Taylor:

Isaac:

Zac:

Anyway, this past weekend, I got to see another group of friends of mine from Conn for a few hours - I went to Scarsdale to see Dan Fifer, Aaron Davis, Dan Cohen, Melissa Skolnick, and Robbie Abrams. After that, I went back into NYC to spend the night going to a few bars with Jenny Madden. One of them was a Broadway Piano bar, which made for an amazing night of belting out broadway tunes with what felt like half of the gay male population of Chelsea. I exaggerate, but it was a blast nonetheless.

Finally, I've returned home for a couple of weeks before I head out to California on the 14th. All I've done since I've been home (though it's really only been a little over 24 hours now) is read the final Harry Potter book, as I've spent the past month and a half carrying each of the 7 books around in my bag (one at a time and consecutively, of course) and catching up by reading them during every free second I've had. The book was amazing. That's all I'll say. If anybody wants to discuss, call me. Seriously.

And now, just about all I have ahead of me is the looming, huge amoung of homework I've avoided with the excuse that I had places and people to visit and Harry Potter to read. I've also got a lot of packing to do before I fly out to California.

Miss you all, as always.