So ah, yeah, how about that spring break, huh?

Teehee, and that's just one of the "you were there" shots. The good stuff is yet to come :-).

This sickness is compliments of Richard. Tehe.

You know its bad when you're psyched about 7.5oz of warmed up Chef Boyardee Lasagna and 16oz of Ben and Jerry's Mint Chocolate Cookie because its the best you've eaten in two weeks.

One last thing before I go back to wading (albeit only waste deep) through 3000 lines of C...

Listen to Tori's version of "Enjoy the Silence," originially by Depeche Mode.

Then listen to it again.

I want to elaborate, but I don't really know what to say.
Enjoy the silence.

You're all probably a little confused, so let me clairify a few things.
- Edward is my half-brother through my dad, and is in his mid 30s. He and Becky both used to live in Arizona. Becky got the house, Edward moved to Chicago, a major hub for United, the airline he works for.
- Becky had a pretty big part in my upbringing, and it is as though she is still a member of the family, even after the divorce. If anything, Edward is the one out of the loop because he's rubbed a few people the wrong way in the wake of the breakup, but it could be a lot worse I suppose.
- Becky lives in Mesa, AZ, about 10 minutes from her parents, as well as her sister Melissa.
- The trip to Grand Canyon with Sara happened because both of us wanted to go while in AZ, but we didn't have someone to go with for whatever reason, so it was like "hey, problem solved."

Oh, right, that wasn't very short. Well it took me less time to type than full blow prose, and it took you less time to read, no?

Okay, well, I was planning on post this huge ass blog about spring break and recent happenings, but I haven't had time because my professors are jerks, in short.

The bad news first:
Catherine and I spoke (typed actually) a couple days ago for about 4 hours, which will probably be our last conversation until June. The short explaination is that we're not ready to be just friends and that we don't want to lose one another's companionship in the long run.
I look back on the relationship with fond memories of what time we did have together, and some understanding of what drew us apart in the end.
What drew us apart had more to do with issues each of us have, and less to do with us as a couple. She isn't a bitch and I'm not an asshole. We just have our own problems, as does everyone. I hope we can both begin to fix those problems. Oh yeah, that's what they call growing up.
Unloading built up animosity is so hard, though. Its funny how how screwed up the people I know really well and I are, even though we are so lucky in life. I wonder how resilient the human psyche is, considering what most people endur in one lifetime?
How can anyone expect to have healthy relationships until they've sorted themselves out first? I'm willing to bet most people die before they understand what has fucked them up in life? I'm sorry, you were saying something about divorce rates? Oh, wait...

Any rate, we ened the conversation on a positive note. I miss her already, but its going to be a while before we can be friends.
Breaking up is hard. Becoming a better person is infinitely harder.

Here's the short version of my spring break:
- Arizona was warm.
- Except at Grand Canyon, which I visited for one day.
- With a blonde junior comm major from Northern Illionis University, by the name of Sara.
- We randomly met on the plane from Chicago to Phoenix.
- No, nothing happened. :-P
- My brother, Edward, had to cancel for the portion of the vacation that I was going to spend with him because his mom is not doing well medicly.
- I spent the entire break with my ex-sister-in-law, Becky, and her family.
- Yes, they recently got divorsed, and are still on speaking terms. We all still kinda consider things as family.
- Some of it was spent with her sister, Melissa, who in her mid 30s, after having a kid, could pass for a very attractive 24 year-old.
- The running joke: "This is my half-brother's ex-wive's sister, Melissa. What does that make us? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING."
- Out of the 20 pack of Velvia I bought, I only shot 5 rolls. They're getting developed tomorrow.
- It's alright, becuase the other 15 will get shot somewhere in Montana, Utah, Colorado, or New Mexico, along with another 30 or so rolls of slide after I graduate and before June 10.
- Oh yeah, Becky's family rules. All very funny and very nice.

In other news:
- I have my offer of employment from MITRE in writing, with the magic number and benefits. Er, well, not so much an offer as "On June 10, we're changing you to full time engineering staff. You will be earning so and so. Show up here for the shpeal on benefits at this time." Uh, okay... twist my arm will you ;-)
- I'm fighting off senioritis something bad. This is difficult considering I can't affort to slack off less I risk my cumulative GPA dip below the magic 3.0. And there's no way I can maintain any sense of pride with a 2.anything.
- The rave I went to on Sat. was cool.
- Or at least until 2:30 when it got shut down in the middle of DJ Micro's set because (drumroll) somebody was doing drugs. Or said the tool that got on the PA after the lights turned on. The ravers in attendance were... displeased, as was I. What a crock.
- I was one of many with lights, though I doubt many had so many people like "hey, where'd you get those." Props to Catherine for the useful and cool Xmas gift.
- My entries in this year's photo contest may span all 7 categories. Whee, I'm branching out into diff. areas of photography.
- I also now have my second EPICS award in writing. Too bad I won't see the cash until the summer.
- Let's hear it for end of senior year credit card debt. Oh wait, no.

Dammit, no one will rave with me. :-P