This week has been chaos.
But first, let's update everyone.
Geoff and I had a wonderful time in the Sierra Nevadas. It was cooler up in the Giant Forest, and the trees were almost fairy-tale-like in their size and appearance. The Giant Sequoias, (particularly the General Sherman,) are the largest living organisms on the planet. (I think I may have mentioned that before.) And truly, you don't fully understand until you are standing beneath them, trying ever-so-hard to not fall over backwards as you squint to see the top.
(This is one of the smaller ones, I think... just another Sequoia in the Giant Forest.)
We were out in the wilderness for about 4 days, camping at two different campsites, and swimming/bathing in the Kaweah River. (Which was freezing at first, but once you were in, it wasn't all that bad... Better than being smelly! Thank you river water and camp soap!) Despite all the other people who were there to tour the beautiful forest, it was definitely a good time for us to reconnect with nature.
(Geoff particularly enjoyed the naturally made Jacuzzi jets we found in the river, right near our swimming area!)
(Chilly and wet, but happy to be clean!)
(This is a photo I took of the roots of a tree that got overturned... really beautiful roots. I took a little series, actually, but this is just a mini of one of them.)
(And this is our touristy picture in front of the General Sherman! We FINALLY got all the children out of the way, so there wasn't anyone else in the photo.)
Anyway, there are a bunch more photos on Facebook of us on our trip, so feel free to check them out! If you don't have Facebook, or don't know what Facebook is, you are welcome to email me. (I accept special requests for emailed photos, but only if you say "pretty please".) :)
We returned to civilization just in time for school!
...which is why this week has been so chaotic. The first week of school has been super stressful for all of us here in Redlands... at least for us Seniors, anyway. It's funny how in high school, senior year you get to slack off and become lazy, eventually but inevitably contracting a disease they call "Senioritis"...and now that we are Seniors in college, it's almost the opposite. I've never worked so hard in my college career. Granted, much of that is due to the fact that I have taken on far too many activities this year.
Not only am I swamped by my Advanced Design class, (which I had homework for over the summer! Jeeze.) but this year, I am Vice President of the Photography Club, Editor of Photography for the Bulldog Weekly Newspaper, working at Bevmo on the weekend, and at the Costume Shop on Fridays... Bleh. Lots of work and responsibilities for me this year. But don't worry, I will take care of myself... if things get too intense, I'll make the sacrifice of dropping something. (Not a class... I mean an activity.) But at least I am making a few extra bucks here and there to put away for when I leave school... Geoff and I are going to need to save a lot for our move out to L.A. next summer.
As far as classes go, I'm taking Advanced Design, Chinese Calligraphy, Forensic Science, and American National Government & Politics. So far, the government class is the only one that puts me to sleep... I simply hate politics, and I know all the reasons I should want to know about it, but I just can't bring myself to become interested in it. Sigh. Oh well... I'll get through it. I need the class for an LAF requirement. (That's a Liberal Arts Foundation requirement, in case you were wondering.)
Anyway, that's all for now! I'm giving the silver Jetta back to Geoff's parents tonight, so I must bid it farewell. It has been a good partner in crime... and I will miss it. :)
