May 22nd, 2010

I remember when today seemed like the most distant point that existed in the future. But like anything, you are left sitting here, the date being at hand or over, reflecting on all the times you imagined it so long ago.

I'm doing my best to hold it together. I'd love nothing more than to just spend time with the people that matter and have made my college experience, but that is not a choice I get to make - for better or worse.

College. Well, that went by fast. And in that fashion, the next stage of my life begins immediately. No time to dwell, no time to reflect. Chop, chop - you're in the real world now.

Oh, god.

My, how far we have traveled.

In about 12 hours my name will be getting called. I will be trying to balance my internal social anxiety of being announced like that, being in front of that many people, remember which hand to grab with and which hand to shake with, and most importantly - trying not to fall.

It is a little disorganized, this graduation. Not the ceremony, or the preparations. The informing. All we know is the general area to be at and that we should be there by 9:30. We know almost nothing else about processing, if there is a way to submit a phonetic spelling of our names, how long it is going to take, etc. I think Fordham has this down to a science, but for the students (who hopefully never do this enough to get used to the process) it is a bit strange.

There is a lot I have been thinking about, been saying, been looking back on. The fact of the matter is - I am tired, tomorrow will be one of the more emotionally draining days I will/have gone through - the roller coaster of excitement, anxiety, embarrassment, fear, joy, celebration, sadness, and love I will run through in the next 24 hours will be enough to require a full week of emotional recovery. Unfortunately (buy fortunately) I start working at 9 am, Monday.

Without further adieu, I present to you - the class of 2010!

Fortune Cookie

"You will live the life that makes all others not envious, but proud of you."

I got this fortune cookie a while ago. These fortunes and I have had a bitter relationship ever since I opened up a negative fortune. At one point, in close succession I had eaten Chinese food twice which left me with two fortune cookies that combined to make a poor message.

The first read: "You will have a prosperous and joyous life" This is a vague but welcomed fortune cookie. Not long after I would get another cookie. This cookie read "Disregard your previous fortune" Maybe this is meant for those who may get greedy, take two, thus undoing the first through the greed of taking a second. However, combining these messages I was told that I should ignore the prospect of have such a life.

At the beginning of this school year, we went out to dinner and the top line was my fortune. I like to keep them, when I remember to, and packing to go home I just came across this again. I never thought of it before, but the negative message of my back to back fortunes seems to somehow coincide. I might not lead a prosperous and joyous life, not because I will be miserable or be unlucky/unfortunate. Instead, whatever my path is, I will be doing something that is clearly not envied by others, but necessary and good. I don't know what this thing is, but with graduation on my heels, looking at these in succession, I am left confused, but eager to find out.

I have to tell you about last night. It was magical. I was able to get 3 of my friends to join me on my Brooklyn Bridge mission. I think we all agreed, there was no other place we would have wanted to be once we got there. If you ever get a chance, put off sleep, or set your alarm, go stand on the middle of the Brooklyn Bridge. The city, the water, the world - just looks so beautiful. I'll recap soon, but here is a picture.

No Shoes

Today, Toms Shoes, a company known for the conrtibution to developing countries, hosted an national day without shoes. To promote awareness, people today went without shoes regardless of where they went.

Even though it is not the safest, or cleanest place, I braved the Bronx and went barefoot most of the day. I had to wear shoes to work this morning, but from 1 pm on, it was bare feet.

I was a bit worried about the grass, but all in all I was unencumbered by the lack of footwear. My only run-in was at TD Bank where the ATM was closed, and I was not allowed into the main bank. I was allowed in the coffee shop, and the laundromat, however.

It was a cool event, and enough people asked that I felt like it mattered.

I hope that I can keep up on my new idea. Recently, after flipping through my Facebook photos I started reflecting back on my college years and some of my fondest memories. I started wondering what some of the best times were and mentally began scanning my college career. This along with a friend of mine's idea to make it his newest blog project has made me want to do something similar.

I won't be make a top 10 list, or discussing major events throughout college. Instead I am going to use this space, maybe for awhile, maybe every couple of days, to reflect on single moments that stand out in my years here. I hope it doesn't bore anyone.

100 Nights

Well not quite, actually. Turns out we are actually down to 92 or so until graduation. If you need to reach me, I will be out looking for where the last three and a half years went.

its about escaping

so this will be my final blog post...for a few days (fooled you..you being one of 3 people who reads this).  anyway...heading out to go camping with highschool friends for a few days.  pretty much 0 communication once we get there..so i will be cut off from the world and its one of the best parts of my year...i know i shouldnt argue how blissful it is to escape from the technological side of society for a few days since i indulge in facebook, always on instant messager, twitter, myspace, etc...but as much as i love those...days without them can be so refreshing.

anyway...by the time i return it will be the eve of so many friends graduations and to them and to everyone else this graduating this year - congratulations! and you will be missed around fordham.

finally - there are so many movies coming out this year..literally one a week for most of the summer, sometimes two in one weekend - but that is not where it ends..this fall promises to give us some incredible films - two of them were meant to come out last year but got delayed (hopefully for the better, although thats rare). both based on beloved books, one of our adult years and one of our childhood years - the road, and where the wild things are look to be absolutely brilliant.  the dudes who are working on WTWTA started a blog abotu 3 weeks ago with different bands, music vidoes, films, art that inspire them and in someway influence their work on WTWTA located at www.weloveyouso.com

the road, while nothing has been seen in a video format, - many stills have been released showing some pretty breathtaking locations/scenes.  the general description of the film/story is written as :Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don’t know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food—and each other.

are you not at all interested?