Getting Back to Me: Good stuff coming to you soon-- but first, an update!

Well, hello there!

It has been over a month since I last posted. My apologies. I'm not going to produce a grocery list of excuses, but rather, I had other things to get done besides blog. But hey, here I am now with loads to share with you!

First off, let me just announce that I have finished my first year of college! It has been a rollercoaster of a year, but it finally ended. I will be spending the next month taking a May-mester class which will end in early June, so technically I am not completely on summer break.

Last time I blogged was during my spring break where I recalled a spring memory. We have got a little over a month left of spring before we transition into summer. I'm just ready for some pool time!

Since spring break, things have been very eventful. Before I share the details with you, I am leaving these fun photos from spring break here for you to see. I got to hang out with Jackson, Anna, and Carson.

Posing with Carson - Photo by Anna

Posing with Jackson and Carson - Photo by Anna

Aren't they adorable? Anna & Jackson

A week later, I attended Shrek the Musical at my old high school. Let me just say, that was the best performance I have ever seen at my high school, and it is sad that the show wasn't put on while I was still in school! It was spectacular. The acting, the set... everything. Kudos to the wonderful cast and crew for presenting a hilarious show!

Took a selfie with Seth, a.k.a. Shrek!

A couple weeks after spring break, Panic! at the Disco played a concert at my college! Needless to say, I was very thrilled, considering what happened at the last show where the floor broke at the Tabernacle.

The concert wasn't to begin until 7 p.m., but since they were playing at my college, this was a wonderful opportunity to possibly meet the band! My friend saw them a couple nights before at another college, and had the pleasure of meeting the band, so we kept in touch all morning until I got there to keep tabs on what the band was doing. Sadly, after waiting many long hours, we never got to see Panic! at the Disco before the show. On the plus side, I got a spot on the barricade with friends, and met some new people! The show opened with two rappers from GSU, and then Panic! at the Disco took the stage. It was awesome. It was not a full length show; just shy of an hour. It did, however, make up for the two-song show I saw in February. After P!ATD played, rapper B.o.B. performed, with a guest appearance from rapper T.I. I would say it was a pretty good night.

Brendon Urie, lead singer of
Panic! at the Disco

B.o.B.

T.I. making a guest appearance.

The following Wednesday, I went to a Braves game which was a lot of fun. I went with some of my new friends whom I've gotten to know since February. It was got intense toward the last couple innings of the game, where the Braves had been in the lead by 4 runs... and the New York Mets caught up. Luckily after changing pitchers, the Braves saved the game from overtime and we won.

A few days after the game, over the weekend, I was at home visiting. Late that Saturday night, there was a tragedy in my town. A house caught fire down the road from me, killing two, and one badly burned. The father and son survived; the mother and daughter did not. I had the pleasure of knowing the little girl from many summers at the pool. I am still in disbelief that it happened. It is amazing how my small town has come together in support of this family, and I am happy to know that there have been generous donors contributing to this family's recovery through donations on GoFundMe. If you would like to make a donation to help the family, please visit this link.

Also during that weekend, I began to experience crippling pain in my calf muscles, nearly enabling me to walk. It was bad timing too, seeing as how I had a crew position in my college's production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. I saw a doctor about the leg pain as soon as I returned to campus, only to be told there was a slight chance I had blood clots. Needless to say, that frightened me. The doctor ordered bed rest until the swelling and pain dissipated, and to keep ice on my calves whilst staying in bed. It was a difficult few days, but I was asked to return to the doctor on two days after my initial visit. I had to see another doctor, because the one I saw wasn't in. This new doctor examined me again, only to conclude that I definitely had tendonitis, and she rolled her eyes at my near-misdiagnosis. With a sigh of relief and an anti-inflammatory prescription, I was able to carry on. I struggled that week to catch up on missed work all while preparing for the shows that week. I can't tell you how happy I was for Saturday to arrive, where I celebrated my 19th birthday with good company.

My birthday was on Easter, so I decided to celebrate a day early so I could have my friends around. A few came back home for Easter and also attended my celebration, which was exciting. We went to Johnny Rockets for dinner, where we heard good music and shared many laughs. The fun continued when we all drove back to my house for cupcakes, photos, other junk food, and more laughs. I think we smashed more cupcakes in each others' faces than we did eat them. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday.

The cupcakes

The ladies!... and Andrew photobombing over to the left.

About to get smacked in the face with another cupcake!

The aftermath... photo by Marissa

After a late night, I woke up early anyway to attend a beautiful church service. We enjoyed punch on the lawn after service and took pictures with friends by the cross full of flowers. It turned out to be a fabulous weekend.

Me posing with Matt & Nat

When I returned to school on Monday, I stopped by the Student Center after class to get in line to meet two cast members from the television show New Girl-- Jake Johnson (Nick) and Damon Wayans Jr. (Coach). It was pretty awesome.

Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr.

As many of you know, April is usually the month of prom for many high schools, so I had the pleasure of photographing two of my best friends before they went off for a fun night. Just look at that adorable couple! (Pictures below.)

Jackson and Anna

After another stressful week of shows, A Midsummer Night's Dream concluded and we did a set strike. We really tore up the set, and it took us three hours to get it all cleaned up. The next day I sat in a speaker series featuring Jack Hanna, from Animal Planet. I received a an autographed photo from him and even got to pose in a photo of him which I will soon receive from my school. I am really enjoying these meet and greet opportunities my school has offered to students. More items may be crossed off my bucket list!

It was a hard week of finals, but I made it and now I am taking in this free week as best as I can before I start class again... and once my May-mester class is over, I begin working at a summer camp. It is going to be a long, busy summer, but I will find time for fun and taking care of me.

When finals ended, I got to get away to North Carolina for a long weekend for my cousin's wedding. It was a lovely wedding and a lot of fun. Check out some highlights through the pictures below.