So busy...

This weekend was the most ridiculously busy weekend of my life so far. A bajillion grad parties to go to, plus my own to host, and today is Class Day and Commencement. I don't believe I've slept in about two weeks...

So, my grad party was actually a lot of fun to host. It was nice to see all my extended family, family friends, and especially friends from school and church. I really only had one problem with it: Not as many people showed up as I thought would. Most of the people who did show were family or really close friends. From school, I had about 4 friends show and about 6 friends from church. Other people who came were either family or close friends, and about two families from church who weren't my youth pastors or the interns. To tell you the truth, I'm kinda pissed off. It's insulting that hardly any of my friends showed up. Some of them had good excuses, I know. I'm not hounding them. It's the people who said they were gonna go or the people whom I KNOW had nothing better to do or will use the excuse, "But there were so many grad parties." (<--In a whiny voice) Okay, I know there were a lot of grad parties. I went to several of them. All I was asking for was about 5 minutes of your time:  time to come in, say hi, sign the book, eat something (if you wanted) and leave. I wouldn't have minded that. I DO mind being stood up. So, thanks for making me feel so incredibly disappointed, all of you who I invited and didn't show up.

On a happier note, the people who did come were awesome. I got to actually talk to my friends who showed up, and we had some very interesting conversations. One friend in particular stayed for practically the whole thing and then for some time afterwards so that we could talk about college life at UNI. (Thanks Josh.  :]  ) I'm glad that a couple of my friends, even though they couldn't come to the party, came to my house afterwards to say hi and congratulations and drop off their cards. Means a lot guys. (Especially Ananya, who ended up getting to my house when I was no longer there. She stayed a while anyway to talk to my family. Pretty awesome.)

Now, Class Day. The boringest event in the world, besides maybe some golf tournament, which is basically watching the grass grow. Class Day is where all the seniors file in in their pairs, which, for our class of about 400, takes almost 10 minutes in itself. Then there's the playing of the Star Spangled Banner by the senior band members, who have to make their way out of the seats they just go into and up into the pep band area. Then they file back down, and the top 3% and 15% of the senior class are announced. I had to go straight from up top to finding my place in the aplhabetically ordered line for 15%. We all file up to the podium and are given cords and plaques. Then it's scholarships. Practically every scholarship that a senior has earned is announced at this point, including Dollars for Scholars, which is practically the whole senior class. But right before Dollars for Scholars, there's the last performance of the senior choir members, then the band and cheerleaders. After that, anyone who got $500 or more from Dollars for Scholars lined up and got a certificate. All the people who got $350 were announced, but they at least didn't have to line up. Then there was the Principal's Award and the Department Awards. Then, finally, the last part: mementos. These are generally the bast part of the whole thing, not only because they turn off the lights and put spotlights on the pile. A memento is usually an inside joke between members of the club or a token of significant achievement. The best was for AcDec, which I participated in. We painted a toilet seat gold with a flaming J on the lid, then we all signed the inside. It was the awesomest thing ever. :)

Commencement is tonight. Luckily, this year I don't have to play Pomp and Circumstance 18 times in a row. However, since my last name is at the beginning of the alphabet, I have to wait for FOREVER after I have my empty sleeve (we get our diplomas when we return the gown and collar) until Joe Zahn gets up on stage. He switches the tassel, and then everybody throws their caps in the air. Except for people like me who are going to bobbypin it to their heads so that they don't have to worry about it falling off. I'll toss it later, though it's not as special. I didn't want to lose my cap amongst the rest of them anyway.