"But there’s no need to worry
This is just a vacation
It’s not permanent leaving
Every kid gets excited"

-Animal Collective

To say I’ve been too busy to write wouldn’t be entirely telling the truth. I have been doing a lot of things, there’s no doubt about that. However, since there is no school, I still find myself with a lot of down time. I wish I remembered to write more often, because there are times when I’ve done really interesting things that I want to share in detail, but by the time I remember to, I can’t recall them with as much clarity.

Since I got home from Bonnaroo and started my summer job, “working� is pretty much all I’ve been up to. On my days and nights off though, I have managed to have some fun, including doing the following:

1) First and foremost, going to many White Sox games. I don’t want to jinx it, but so far I am undefeated this year. Fingers crossed. Knock on wood. Etc.
2) Pitchfork music festival, held annually in Chicago’s Union Park. A friend from school came to visit and we basically hit the town, up, down, and all around. I feel like it’s my duty to show my school friends why exactly it is I am so in love with my city. And we jammed to Vampire Weekend and, one of my top most fav bands, ANIMAL COLLECTIVE! It was very powerful.
3) Today I went to IKEA, the massive furniture/ everything else home-livey warehouse and I almost died. Not only is my wallet crying because of the need to furnish my apartment next year, I found myself crushed under the feeling that I will never be complete. I want everything in that store. And it’s almost justifiable because it’s SO CHEAP. But cheap adds up. I spent almost 400 dollars today and I know I’m not half way done.

It’s strange that most of my friends are going back to school within the month. I mean, this happened last year. And it felt almost the same way somehow. Getting ready for school/ moving in is exciting, but it’s even sadder this time around. Not only am I getting left behind again, it’s by that handful more of people who were seniors in highschool last year. And now I’m actually moving out to live on my own, albeit with two other girls, but with no more authority figures/ people looking out for me from afar or from offices down the dorm hallways. That’s the way it’s going to be for the rest of my life too; that’s what’s really not sinking in. This next step is going to be a big one, and having to buy my furnishings etc. really hit me like a ton of bricks today. Growing up is weird!

On the other hand, my summer is barely half over. I am going to the Cirque du Soleil this week. Several buds are coming to Chicago for the three-day music festival, Lollapalooza this weekend (RADIOHEAD!!! Wilco!!!) I am vacationing to South Carolina in two weeks. So there are still good things going on. The future is indeed sneaking up on me, but it’s almost as exciting as it was last year. Except this time I actually know people going in. That much is comforting to know.

In the meantime, I’m trying to not let summer slip through my fingers while simultaneously wishing school would hurry up and get here already because I miss it.

So there’s that. And again, because it’s baseball season in my heart and all around, more than anything else…

GO SOX!!!