Ladies and Gentlemen, announcing the graduation of Kevin!

That's it! He did it! Kevin Phillip Thomas has finally graduated!! Three cheers for the best brother on the planet!!

Dressed and pressed for success in his formals, he marched towards his seat to the tune of Pomp and Circumstance. Then came the speeches, as every graduation must contain. Boring, long winded, and annoying, but a necessary inconvenience. They took their Marine Merchant oath and then proceeded up towards the stage. As students proceeded across air horns rang out, shouting, cowbells, and every other form of noise maker you could imagine.

Then I heard his name being called and saw my best friend begin walking towards then rest of his life. I could hear myself screaming his name while jumping up and down. Chris and Ben were blowing an air horn and ringing a cowbell respectively. Our mothers were crying and our fathers were hollering at the top of their lungs. We had all decided that it wasn't official until his diploma was in hand. But now it was and he was officially done.

All the seniors were now across the stage with their prize in hand. Caps were flung, the band played, and now the congratulations start rolling in. Dinner plans, party plans, and life plans were the topic of conversation for the next few hours.

Then the drinking began.

Two bottles of wine later we arrived at dinner. A pre-dinner cocktail with more wine and drinks during dinner. We were all thoroughly sloshed. Then someone had the bright idea to go out in the city. And so, to Per's house we went. We headed straight to The Blarney Stone, where everyone proceeded to become a giant mess ... some more than others.

Everyone was in serious pain this morning. But we're all still alive which is good. Kevin and company drove back to Vallejo, I drove back and headed straight to brunch at Brenda's with my parents. It was incredible. Beignets, gumbo, and grits for breakfast. Nothing could have been better.

Up All Night

I've been up all night writing a paper. It was due at 9:15 this morning. And lord did I struggle. But I got it done. I just need to make it through the rest of today then I can go home and sleep. Oh, and did I mention that I've been in badge attire all day? And that I'll be here until 9?

But... I GOT MY LIFE FIGURED OUT TODAY!!

I met with my advisor and we decided what my senior year is going to look like. I get to graduate on time! So freaking happy... you have no idea. I thought I was going to have to take a crazy summer schedule and then go psycho over my last two semesters of college. But Deanna, being the Saint she is, figured out my schedule and told me that I didn't have to kill myself because everything was going to be fine.

So today I've got my head held high. I'm going to be graduating on time. =)

I've Got the Blues.....and then Some

So now the real depression sets in. The weekend is over and I've (literally) Got the Blues. The exchange was a ridiculous amount of fun. My feet ache, my core is sore, and my knees are screaming. But it was absolutely worth it. 

This weekend's event opened my eyes to the wonderful scene out here in SF. I met so many awesome people and had some incredible dances. I've found some new favorite partners and reconnected with old ones. One in particular that I had given up hope on. We shared a slow piece that allowed us to reconnect and heal our wounds. 

This experience has absolutely changed how I feel about social dancing and I can't wait for my next exchange.

Post-Coachella Bliss

Coachella was incredible.

I knew it was going to be an amazing weekend and it was. It always is. But now the post-Coachella bliss is fading, the end depression is setting in. But I'm strangely ok with it since I'm only going to be depressed for a few days. Why? Because I've Got the Blues.....and then Some - A San Francisco Blues Exchange is this weekend!!

I'm so excited to be going to my first Exchange. I just picked up blues a few months ago but I'm already incredibly addicted. Its just an incredible amount of fun. Being able to run around and dance with people from all over the country and the world for three days is going to be insane. I can't wait. =)

Festival Countdown

I'm sit on my couch, preparing my customary road trip playlist. This is one of my favorite weekends of the year. The people, the music, the grounds, the overall atmosphere, its just a fantastic place to be. This will be my fifth year in attendance. And I'm so excited that I can't stand it. 2 days and 10 hours until the grounds open and I will be in heaven.

The playlist will include the heavy hitters and the little knowns that have been added to my library for solely this purpose. All of the artists have been mixed up together and will bring the total flavor of the weekend to the drive.

My camera is charged, my bag is packed, the playlist is made.

Ladies and Gents, Coachella weekend is here!!

Endless Winter

You know those people that you just feel a crazy strange connection with? Well, I met one. Its weird. We jive on a deep and personal level. And yet, something is off. Maybe its the age thing, maybe its the whole beliefs differences. No, its definitely the fact that when we dance time stands still. He's confused about this crazy connection the two of us share. We connect so perfectly that people in the same room have stopped in the middle of their own dance simply to watch.

We met over summer, but I wouldn't say we were friends until winter. Then you were a constant presence. There was always a txt from you when I woke up or when I went to sleep. We chatted about life, food, hobbies, interests, and many other things. We talked, we ate, we watched movies. We spent my whole winter break like that. Even while I was in Hawai'i.

Then I left for school. And you got distant.

Our Endless Winter didn't seem so endless anymore. I can still recall every dance we've ever had, every song we listened to together, every moment spent curled up on your couch watching Underworld 1-3 and freaking out about number 4. I remember feeling myself growing fond of you. I thought you were fond of me too. I just didn't know how much.

Turns out, it was a lot more than I expected it to be. You were beginning to think of me as a person of interest. Not at all what I had in mind. I was thinking about my relationship, and how much I love him, and that just didn't add up to exploring this connection. The connection made us great dance partners but lousy friends.

We chatted occasionally, but never as much as we did before. You explained more of why you were pulling away and I thought I understood it. I guess not. So now I've lost a dance partner, but more importantly I've lost a friend. I've lost someone that I trusted with secrets and opinions that I've rarely shared with other people. Any why? Why have I done this? Because I felt what you felt. I felt that draw between us. I felt that underlying tension that could never be released because of my relationship and your respect of that boundary.

I'll never forget the moments that we shared. I still think of you often. The number of trigger songs in my Spotify playlist is semi-ridiculous. But while I'll remember you always, know this: when you come knocking on my door again, I'll be there to answer.


David Keogh/Adrienne Carian – endless winter