I haven't wrote in like a week so I thought I should probably catch back up.

I have 9 more days here at Governor's School. Things are starting to wind down but there are still some things I am stoked about before I leave here!

Masquerade ball Saturday. I. AM. SO. EXCITED. :-D My outfit I hope blows everyone away!

I am also going to see Harry Potter on Sunday! Yay! That is gonna be a blast! 

This past weekend I got to hang out with Caroline Duffy! We had a great time shopping, gossiping, and eating the best noodles I think I've ever had. She is seriously one of the most chill people I have ever met. Victoria's Secret was having a HUGE sale so we definitely spent like an hour in there! Ha! I also got to chill with my grandma on Saturday which was nice. I layed in the pool and went to lunch with her. Very relaxed day. It was a great weekend! :-)

The last few nights I haven't really felt like hanging out with people every second. It might be the rain or it might be the introvert I can sometimes be. I'm not sure. All I know is I have gotten some great naps, great convos with people back home, and a little happiness from my time alone. :-)

The other day the college fair took place, and now I am so stoked for college and ready to apply. Representatives were there from Chapel Hill, Wake Forest, Duke, Harvard, Vanderbilt and 60 other colleges! I can't believe I am saying this but I am really looking into NC State because they have a large psychology program. So now UNC Chapel Hill and NC State are my first and second choices...yay me! Ha. I was glad the fair took place when it did because I was really bummed about my AP scores. After talking to college represenatives I felt a lot better though and more prepared for the application process. I'm going to tour State hopefully my last day at Governor's School, and I'll probably tour UNC Asheville next month. Time to get serious.

So the other night we had the a speaker who was the most influental yet. His name is Darryl Hunt, from Winston-Salem and he spent 20 years in prison, accused of rape and murder, only for investigators to discover the real murderer later. I cried hysterically. He was such a humble man and had not one harsh thing to say about the situation except that "everyone makes mistakes." He kept an undying faith while in prison, even when kept in solitary confinement after guards tried to trick him into leaving prison grounds, an act that would  have cost him his life. I was absolutely stunned and am now joining the "Innocence Project" in hopes that false accusations and injustice can be minimal in the court today. 

I went yesterday and got my eyebrows waxed and it was actually a good experience. I will definitely do it again. TMI? Ha. Possibly. ;-)

This past week has made me realize that I really have changed while here, hopefully for the better. I now have an idea of what I want to do with my life, I feel good with loved ones back home, and I feel stronger in myself. I thank Governor's School for that. This has been a phenomenal experience so I feel ungrateful in saying this, but I'm ready to go home. Home to MY bed. MY shower. To my little sister. To Sarah. To Julie. To Brendan. See you soon babies! I'm coming home... a very content girl. :-)


 Oh and one last thing...the title. Yeh. I'm can be so blonde at times. In class we played a game called "Hot Seat" where you can ask a person anything you want for five minutes. Well when one guy was explaining where his middle name came from he said it came from Winnie The Pooh to which I replied, "Is your middle name is Pooh!?"
Let's just say, people STILL have not let me live it down. :-p
 

Tuesdays...better than Mondays, not as good as Wednesdays.

Time continues to fly by and I'm amazed that I'm almost half way done with Governor's School. Where the hell did the time go??  This experience has been unbelievable. I have made so many friends, learned so much about subjects in this world I had never even considered and most importantly I've learned alot about myself. I've learned to challenge myself and not always accept what I'm told. There is so much fragility in authority and although I've always known this I've never applied it to my life. I've found here that despite the attention from multiple boys... I don't need any of it. I find I've been happiest here when there is no pressure for anything romantic. I enjoy being that girl who has a ton of guy friends and waits for the perfect boyfriend to come along. I feel so much more confident in myself emotionally and I think this is going to show when I return home.

I'm sad to think in three short weeks I won't be able to sit on the quad with my friends and talk, laugh and star gaze. At the same time though I'm excited that I DO have three weeks to do this and I know to appreciate it. I have made some great friends here. Alex has become one of my best friends.  I pick on Glenn and Graham so much but they know I love them both. These three have been a blast since the beginning and I'm so fortunate to have met them. David and Ashton are just flat out adorable and I just want to pinch them both. They brighten everyday here. :-) I have been just a tad bit homesick but then last night I was looking at pictures I have taken in the last few days and I couldn't help but smile. I really am having the time of my life! :-D

Chuck read my poetry yesterday and gave me advice on it. I was honest about how I have never related much to poetry and while he did correct some things and make some major points he made me feel like my work was worth reading. It meant alot. He's such a wonderful guy and I'm lucky to have the opportunity to call him one of my teachers. THE Chuck Sullivan. :-)

Today I had two volleyball games back to back. We won the first but lost against the Staff. I'm definitely the worst on the team ha. And I'm not like absoultely horrid, so obviously my team is good.

Last night we played Truth or Dare and Ashton gave us a wonderful rendition of "Hit Me Baby One More Time" WITH dance moves. I filmed it. Prepare youselves. :-D Then I played this really fun game that involved doing whatever you can to keep your partner from touching the person in the middle of the circle. Sooo much fun! Well...that is until you get a rough partner. Let's just say today I have a 6 inch long and 3 inch wide bruise all the way up the inside of my arm...and it hurts like hell.

I've been upset about staying with my Grandma this weekend because she stays at her boyfriend's all the time now. It's not I don't like this guy it's just I've only met him once and she wants to me to stay at his house, which bothers me. I'm probably just being chilidish but going to my grandma's was a big deal as a child, something to look foward. I guess that's just it... I'm not a child anymore...

 Time to grow up.

Oh! And I have one more big announcement...I am offically addicted to the CHOCOLATE ice cream here....I KNOW!!!! :-)

And just now the girls dorm had a sing off with the guys dorm through our windows which included a version of Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way" and Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours." Yep life is awesome. :-)

 

My area 3 class is by far my favorite! We are planning a community service project where we give out "Lanyard Bling." Little safety pins with different colored beads on them to raise awareness. We are going to accept donations and send them to the Teen Suicide Hotline. Yeh...this just sounded like an infommercial. Whatever.

My volleyball team won again. :-) Next week we play two teams on Tuesday and then another on Thursday. I love being on a winning team. It's such a good feeling. We all get a long and are having a blast while playing.

I went to a seminar about underlying tones in Disney movies....it pissed me off. I ended up leaving. It was so ridiculus the way EVERY little thing in Disney movies was criticized. Maybe I am just protective of my Disney movies but it was just annoying. Critics supposively flipped shit about the new African American princess' name being Maddie because it sounded too much like "Mammie" WTF? Like seriously? So her new name is Tiana...nice.

A speaker came a few nights ago who helped us "explore our bodies and minds." It was...very sensual...and VERY akward. In the words of many, "that lady must masterbate a lot." :-p Then night before last a painter/political activist came. She was very interesting. I really enjoyed her presentation about conflict in Israel. I thought she was gonna be an EXTREME liberal, but really her speech was very informative.

The band here is AMAZING! I went to their concert last night and it was wonderful! The had a piece where no instruments were involoved, they just clapped. And it was AMAZING!!!

Tonight we had a dance and talent show that were by far some of the best I have EVER been to. The talent show had some AMAZING dancers and singers and instrumentalists. I guess that is to be expected since this is the school for the "gifted and/or talented". ;-)
The dance was on the quad tonight which was so much nicer than the gym because there was a breeze. They played a good hour of Michael Jackson (God bless his soul) music that was SO easy to dance to. I had a great time and I hope they keep making the dances better and better. :-)

And of course..boys. I was interested in one but he has a girlfriend and I felt too guilty to get involved with him so I pulled away. So after him I was like I don't need/want a guy here. But of course someone else came along and I'm too curious to shoot it down. Not giving details..this ain't no diary :-p And also I don't want to say too much just yet. For some reason I feel a little uncomfortable? I'm so wierd lately. I like the attention from guys but then when they give me their FULL attention..it kind of..I don't know...scares me? Gah. I'm so retarded. I guess I've just put up a bit of a wall.
Flirting...easy. I can do it all day. Anything slightly serious...RUN!

Last but not least. I put two purple streaks in my hair. :-) I like it. 

Tomorrow is Sunday = ALOT OF SLEEPING! I need it. I am loving it here but I'm SO tired. For some reason I am feeling a little homesick today. :-( I love my new friends but I miss my ones back home and my family. 

Life is still good. GSE is still great. No complaints I suppose.
 

I can't believe that today will mark day 5 of Governor's School! I have already learned so much and met so many people in this short time, I can't imagine what and who I will know when the six weeks are up! There is so much to do here and not nearly enough time to do it all in! Seminars, trips, lectures, clubs, sports.  It's like a little organized college...oh wait...it is. Haha

This is kinda A.D.D but at this moment I am sitting on a blanket out in the quad, soaking up the sunshine, and there is a squirrel literally like one foot in front of me, just watching me. He isn't trying to come near me or anything, he's just chillin' like "Hey girl...what's your name?" Even the squirrels are friendly here! :-p

I'm trying to think of all I've done since the last time I wrote....let's see. Well classes are going well. I really enjoy spending an hour just debating with people and listening to new perspectives. It's unlike any course I've ever taken. Yesterday I found the lake and sat by it and wrote poetry. It was quite relaxing. Then last night I went to a lecture about the New Testamant and what is fact and what is fiction. While I still stand by my beliefs, it was interesting to see what scholars believe to contradict itself in the bible. It was also cool to hear some of the sometimes bizarre theories people have come up with to prove biblical stories wrong. The man who came teaches religion at UNC-Chapel Hill and I'm thinking if I get in I will definitely be signing up for his class. 

Night before last I went to Open Mic night. I didn't intend to sing but once I got there peer pressure set in and I went for it. I sang "Mood Indigo" by Duke Ellington and the crowd gave me an amazing response. The people here are always open minded and willing to appreciate everyone's talents. 

I signed up for the volleyball team and my first game is next week! I'm so stoked. It's been way too long! Unfortunately I don't have any knee pads with me so I'm a little worried about  my knees...haha.

Saturday night is the first Governor's School dance. I'm really excited and anxious to see how we all improvise our dancing so that we're not grinding. Dances always seem to bring some people out of their shell so I'm hoping this will do that for a lot of people. 

Sunday we're going to Crabtree mall! YAY!!! I leave home for 6 weeks and I STILL get to go shopping. Saturday there is a trip to Jellybeans. I've never been skating so I'm not really wanting to go, but my friend Glenn has been trying to persuade me. His peer pressure is quite convincing so I guess we'll just wait and see. I don't want to bust my ass...or face on the floor. Ha.

Tonight i'm going to a lecture about what defines country music. It should definitely be interesting. I love that things are analyzed here that are often overlooked elsewhere.  

Every night I go out to the quad and meet new people. Last night Brandi, Alex, Glenn, Graham and I sat in the parlor telling stories about stupid people doing things...(like driving their cars into houses after prom). It was so chill and I love it. The night before that I sat in the grass with Allie, Devyn and Andi and we talked about boys, love and how girls emotions are not something to be toyed with. There are so many people here, I just hope I get a chance to meet as many people as possible. 

So you're probably wondering what the title of this means...well...the other night we had a hall meeting. We talked about how we need a name and no one could think of anything. Well then I asked about getting drinks after the dining hall is closed because I'm always so thirsty. One of the girls said she had more drinks than she knew what to do with so I could just knock on 404 and she'd give me something. We joked about having a code word to make it a speak easy. All the sudden out of no where someone goes "HYDRATION EMERGENCY!" And thus...our hall name was born.
Yeh you had to be there...haha

I'm so stoked about the next few weeks. On top of Governor's School and the mall and dances, Brendan is coming up to State so I'll get to chill with him! And of course I am making plans with the oh so fine Caroline Duffy. :-)

Yep this summer is going well. :-D

If you want to see one of the poems I wrote here is one. We had to choose something to look at in 13 different ways. I chose..you guessed it...a man. :-p

Standing lone with ocean foam engulfing his feet;
A distant dream in his eye.
His name is a mystery, his passion a secret.
Curiosity has been sparked by a man.

Projecting a voice as majestic as Zeus.
My chest at ease at his hand's control.
Power exercised by a man.

Bosom heaving to hide my pounding heart.
Forbidden sin within my grasp.
The Garden of Eden resurrected.
My body lusts for the touch of a man.

Strong rough hands intertwined with mine.
A song as joyful as the breaking of spring.
My soul flies.
No hiding my happiness from a man.

Lips brush mine and the world
is a carasaul of color.
A scarlet and pink whirlwind.
I'm head over heels in love with a man.

Veil hiding my tearing sky eyes.
The congregation stands in harmony.
Our vows voiced,
Love. For better of worse.
A man I are now one.

The sun will not shine
and neither can my soul.
The world has consumed me,
but he is my catcher in the rye.
Encouragement is my savior in the form of a man

The chicken now ice.
The candlelight exponentially decays,
along with the numbing wine in my glass.
Once again I am frustrated with a man.

Cries can be heard in a distance.
A new life has blossomed.
A rose planted our of love;
He cradles our new born son.
Nothing is more awe-inspiring
the the gentleness of a man.

Exhaustion pouring from his crow's feet,
the sun has long set in the western sky.
His double occupations kept from our family.
My naivety revealed by the selflessness of a man.

One day.
 Now the equivalent of a year.
Return to me baby.
My soul is overwhelmed,
with nostalgia for a man.

A new smell pollutes our sheets.
I tremble in fear of the truth.
Her couldn't have done this to me. He wouldn't.
Therefore I am the unfaithful whence.
Heartache is evident in the departure of a man.

Sobbing on the floor.
The worthless destroyed of a paradise.
My body is soiled, as sinful as the earth.
Until he offers his hand, and ultimately his heart.
I am rendered speechless by the forgiveness of a man.

So I basically planned to write all about my first day but then I realized not much has happened just yet...

First of all...my roommate is AWESOME! We click really well which makes me quite happy! :-) Her name is Morgan..Grobin....haha Ironic I know. We're alot alike and so far it's looking like this shall be a good thing!

My dorm...is HUGE. And covered in pink! Hehe. I'll be sure to post a picture tomorrow.

The staff here...is very welcoming..and funny!

The boys here...there are extremes. Extremely nerdy...and extremely hot! :-D

I get a lot of freedom here which I like alot and the people are very friendly. I start my first class tomorrow at 8 am! I'm so excited and nervous all at the same time!

Yeah, this entry is short and kinda disappointing but honestly, parents meetings, student meetings and endless welcomes are not that fun to read about (not to mention I'm exhausted and need to sleep) so I think this will be short, sweet and to the point. I really like it here so far and I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!