Spin

Finals week is starting to tumble in at a rapid pace. Too rapid. I'm scrambling around trying to get enough sleep and simoutaneously not fail school. Those are some of my favourite things: sleep and not failing school. I'm trying to piece together some "big life events" at the same time.

I'm a little overwhelmed, but I'm doing a decent job. I could definitely use some peace right now, though. And probably most of the things on that list. Finals tend to do that to a person. I want to buy a bike. A bicycle. Eventually a "bike" in the motorcycle way, but for now just one with pedals. I've been scouring Craigslist for one, even though I only have a very vague idea of what I need. I'm really excited about biking this summer. I haven't ridden a bike in about 2 years. I don't really know anything about biking. I'm trying to figure out where I'll live for 2 weeks this summer before my roommate and I can move into her apartment. I'm excited to spend this summer in the city. When I was a kid, my sister and I would always pretend to be grown ups. I would always pretend I lived in Chicago, and now I do. Lifelong dream fulfilled. I also always had about 17 adopted children, but we'll overlook that one.

In a way, we both ended up living our dreams. We always had a tendency to dream pretty big, too. She always wanted to travel the world. She's visiting Spain this summer, adding her 7th country to the list of places she's been. I'm staying in a city I've always adored this summer, and working 4+ jobs (shhhhh, I know I'm crazy), which is a very me thing to do. I'm excited for new experiences, and I'm excited for building on relationships I already have this summer. Em and I have been taking some pretty big steps lately. Getting ready for this summer has demanded quite a bit from both of us. Apartment hunting in Chicago is largely depressing and dissapointing. Trying to find said bicycle that I am obsessed with obtaining has been more stressful than I anticipated. I'm trying to decide how much is a reasonable food budget for a single girl who prefers to eat mostly fruits & vegetables. I'm trying to figure out how to manage the changes in my skin that come with growing up. I'm coming to terms with the idea that my clothing budget is rapidly shrinking. I'm thinking about buying a shower curtain and knives. I'm excited to live in the world, instead of the controlled environment called "dorms" and to be able to cook my own food. I have slight paranoia about the realization that I need a haircut and have gone to the same stylist for about 10 years, and have no idea how to go about finding one I like here. The little things about becoming an adult are the weirdest, I suppose. Ironically, one of the weirdest blessings for me in all of this is one of those things most would consider a curse. The tiny, cozy little studio apartment. I couldn't be more excited to run my life out of a tiny space. I've always wanted to live in a very small apartment. Em and I don't want to live in any one place for terribly long, at least not until we're substantially older, so buying is out of the question. Plus, even when I was a young teenager, I was set on living somewhere tiny. My mom teased me once after a friend told us of her tiny 3-room house in Africa because my eyes light up with delight at the idea of living in such a simple place. Plus, who really wants to clean a huge house? Oh wait... I'm a maid...