Matt's Journal

It's kind of hard to believe another school year's over and that in a week, I'm going to be a junior. It's actually kind of scary to think about. It's also crazy to think about all the things I've been through since I've started at McDermott (no pun intended, haha). I feel like I'm almost a different person than I was two years ago when I started.

I'm heading home tomorrow. I'm actually going to take a little break for Session A but I'm doing an online class, so at least I'll have some credits. Connor and Auntie told me that they're taking everyone out to California for a few days, which is going to be amazing! I'm so freaking excited, you have no idea. It's an awesome way to end the year. I hope you all have some fun this summer, too. :D

( Ella )

( Private )

So, did anyone see the ACM awards last night? Pretty cool. I love watching it and so does my family. It made me kind of miss them. Country awards shows are kind of our thing.

Apparently, Westmont didn't get the memo that it's spring already. WHY IS THERE STILL SNOW ON THE GROUND?! Even if I got to escape it for a weekend in Las Vegas I have decided to start actively campaigning my aunt and uncle for a family vacation in California, preferably for a while, and preferably when it is sunny and warm. I don't do well in snow.

Other than that, not much going on. Armstrong's coming up and I'm not sure if I want to do something solo or do a collaboration. Collaborations would be kind of cool, actually. Maybe I'll look into that.

( Private )

I can't even imagine what it's like to be in Japan right now. We got earthquakes in California, but nothing like that. The pictures and videos are just... devastating isn't even a strong enough word to cover it. My thoughts and prayers are going out to them right now. I wonder if there's more we can do.

Hi, by the way. I haven't written in here in a while. My life is boring, haha. I am excited for spring to come, because we seriously need it. I'm over all the rain and snow. I want the sun. And it sucks training for swim team in really cold temperatures.

How is everyone?

Back in Westmont. Man, there's a lot of snow here. We actually got a lot at home a few weeks ago, but... yeah, no matter how many years I live here I don't think I will ever get used to living with snow. I miss California

It's weird not having a roommate. Chris keeps me updated periodically but it's just... it's strange being in here by myself. The administration said it was okay that I'm here by myself in a double due to the "unforseen circumstance" but I will have to share this room if someone transfers in and they don't have any space. They gave me the option of moving to a single but I didn't want to move by myself. And I didn't want to leave behind all the memories in this room. I guess I won't have to go to the practice rooms as often, though. I wonder how soundproof these walls are. Hmm.

I'm looking forward to classes, though. I'm taking psychology of music - it sounds so interesting! It's the first class that's actually geared toward music therapy as opposed to just music and performance. I guess I'm making progress.

I'll see you all around in the next few days.

( Private )

Chris called me right after New Year's to tell me he wasn't coming back to school, that on a whim he'd decided to try and make it or break it in New York. Personally, I think he should have tried for L.A. instead. Not that I'm biased or anything. :P But as an amazing of an actor that he is, I think with the whole screenplay writing thing that L.A. would be better for him, that he'd be much better suited in a place with both film and acting roots than just the stage.

I'll miss him. He was a good roommate, and an even better friend. Hopefully I won't have to go through roommate drama again. Do you think they'd put someone random into my room at the beginning of the semester, then? I really hope not. -_-

That's pretty much the extent of my excitement now that the holidays and the wedding and everything are over. Oh, except for ALL THE SNOW. It's supposed to snow at school, not at home. Geez.

Anyway. How's winter study for everyone?

( private )

Hope you all had a good Family Weekend, because I didn't.

So my whole family (well, most of them anyway) was supposed to come out this weekend, right? I got a call Thursday afternoon from my aunt - it rained so hard at home that the streets were flooded. It wasn't that big of a deal on our actual street, but it was pretty bad around the city. So bad that freeways were closed and my family couldn't get to the airport and had to cancel their flight out here. I guess it's okay since my aunt and my sisters came last year, but it still sucks.

It doesn't really matter anyway, does it?

( Private )

It's my birthday today. Happy birthday to me.

It's my first free Saturday in a while, too. Yay? :) Anyone want to throw me a party?

( Private )

Well, back at school. It's weird being here again after being gone for so long, and yet, it's really familiar, too. It's a hard feeling to describe. It'll be nice to settle into a routine again, though. I'm taking a full load this semester because I feel like I need to make up for missing a summer session, you know?

So, have you heard about this hurricane that's coming around? I'm only keeping tabs on it because people at home are going insane trying to get ready for it. My family did the same thing for Hurricane Isabel. I wasn't living there yet but I heard it was pretty intense. Here's hoping this Earl character stays away from my aunt's house. It's supposed to hit pretty close to here, too, over by Cape Cod. Can't win them all, can you? (Although on the flip side, it'd probably be excellent surfing conditions. But I wouldn't want to drown, you know?)

Anyway. I'm sure you all have missed me (haha, yeah right). How's life been treating everyone else?

My grandparents called us for Easter, not only to wish us Happy Easter, but to say that they felt this crazy earthquake in Newport Beach! Apparently, there was a ridiculously huge earthquake in Baja California a few hours ago (7.2 - that's bigger than the Haiti earthquake!). Crazy, huh?

It's weird to be back with my family after I was just back home like, a week ago, but I'm not complaining. I could get used to this, actually. :) I'm gonna go home tonight so I'm going to be super tired this week. Alas. Such is the life of a college student. My aunt says that it's good that I'm working because otherwise they wouldn't be able to afford me flying back and forth so much. Maybe I'll drive down one of these days, hit up New York and Atlantic City and DC and all kinds of other cool places, make it a road trip! :) Maybe that's what I'll do over the summer.

Other than that, not much happening here. Went to church last night, that was cool (they made me play my violin, haha). Speaking of the violin, I'm playing for the musical, too, and that's been fun. There aren't too many parts for us, but it's still something to be a part of the production, since that's what McDermott is known for. (Claire wants to come here. She's becoming quite the little actress, haha.) I can't believe I'm almost a sophomore. That's crazy.

Peace out, y'all. Hope you had a good holiday. (Or a good weekend. Either way. :D)

I never realized how kind of awesome snowboarding is. Did you know Shaun White is from a beach town, too? And yet, he dominates at a sport that involves snow. Snow isn't that far away from us at the beach - about two hours if you go the right way. At least, in California. Not too sure about home though.

I might give snowboarding a try. It seems to be the same as skating (skateboarding, not ice skating), but I've heard it's not the same at all. Couldn't hurt, though. Besides, there has to be something to do with all this snow. It's more snow than I've seen in my life. (And there was even snow in North Carolina this weekend! Crazy!)

Anyone know a good place to go and try my hand (er... feet) at it? I mean, if Shaun White can do it... so can I. :)

( Private )

Oh, sup, journal. I forgot I had you. Haha.

So, I've been home and back and haven't updated this. Fail. California was cool, except right after I left, there was like, a tornado (I know, right?) in a city just a couple up from where my family's from. Crazy, huh?

But actually, I'm updating from North Carolina. My family wanted me to come home this weekend - there's a lot going on, I guess - so I did. Claire and Kristine are selling Girl Scout cookies, so if anyone wants some, let me know and I can bring you some, yeah? We have some big family thing that they wanted me to come home for, so... we'll see how that goes.

Oh yeah, the Olympics are some awesome things to be watching. All this Canadian pride stuff makes me grateful for the most special Canadian I know. :)

( Private )

Guess where I'm updating from?

That's right. Newport Beach.

It is so freaking sweet to be home. This time, I get more than a week. I am so stoked. Here's to In & Out, surfing, Disneyland, and everything else that SoCal brings. (Including awesome weather. But can you believe it's raining today? Yes, it rains even here.)

Also, while I'm here? Have a great new year. :)

( Olivia )

( Private )

You know what really baffles me sometimes? Christmas music.

We're playing this piece, Sleigh Ride, for one of our performances, right? And I just... the whole concept of snow that everyone keeps talking about in songs? I never understood it. You know, until I came here and was shocked by how cold it can really get. But since when did Christmas equate with snow? I grew up in California - we had a Christmas one year where we had a barbeque on our patio. Like Andrew McMahon puts it - "it's Christmas in California and it's hard to ignore that it feels like summer all the time." It just... it seems like Christmas songs can be really discriminatory. Besides, the whole point of Christmas is about Jesus, right? That's what it all comes down to, anyway.

Sorry, that was a little philosophical. But I just had to put my thoughts out there.

...yeah, that's all.

Whoa, it's been a while, hasn't it? Geez. Sorry, journal. Um... I don't know if I have much to say, except that there's this pretty awesome little alcove near the PAC that I found the other day, and it's a great place to perform or practice. And it's also kind of... special. But that's kind of girly, too. It's also a nice place to, you know, take a special somebody. :)

I guess I've been practicing a lot... there's a lot of stuff to be practicing for.

Sorry, I'm boring, I know. ;)

( Private )

Um... so, sup from NC. It's been a crazy few days and this is the first time I've been able to get to a computer. Thisbe, I have a shift tomorrow that I can't do - do you think you could do it for me? I'd e-mail you, but I'm already here and I know you can see this. A family emergency came up and so I had to come down.

...Yeah. At least this happened when it did, and not any earlier or later or whatever. That's one less thing I have to worry about.

Liv... I'll call you later.

( Private )

Wow, I meant to update this earlier, I did. I guess it just got away from me. I did have to work this weekend (and Monday) and I had a quiz in Italian and I just got about five new pieces for String Quartet. Yeah.

I had a great birthday, though. My aunt and my sisters called me super early (sorry, Chris) and wouldn't stop chattering for like, ever. They want me to go down for fall break, but I'm not sure yet. I'm still holding out to go to SoCal for the weekend, but I know that's a bit of a stretch. ;)

Liv, thanks again for the violin case. I get compliments on it wherever I go now. :)

That's about it, really, I guess. How is everyone else doing?

( Liv )

( Private )

So, how was everyone's weekend? Mine was... crazy. I liked seeing my family. I did not like getting punched in the face. (Yes, you read that right. Yes, I'm serious. No, I don't want to talk about it.) Thank God for ice, aspirin, and sleep.

...My birthday's on Friday. Eighteen. Whoo. Here's hoping they don't make me work.

( Private )

Parents Family Weekend coming up. I'm kind of excited. My sisters want to come - they told me they want to 'see my school' (Claire, my youngest sister, is really intrigued by the idea of living at school - but she's seven, so I don't blame her), but I think they're really just hoping they'll run into you again, Chloe. I'll try my best to distract them. You have family too. :D

I'm trying to talk my aunt into taking us back to Cali for our fall break. That's what I really want for my birthday. Even if it is like, a month away.

...That's all, I guess.

( Private )