Classic City Here I Come!

After much deliberation, I've decided to move to Athens, my favorite city in the world, in July for the fall. I was planning on going to GCSU and stay here in Milledgeville, but changes happen. It turns out I don't have enough credit to get into GCSU, so on to Plan B which, turns out to be better! The plan now is to move to Athens and attend Gainesville State in Watkinsville for fall semester, then hopefully have enough credit for UGA! I was born and raised a Dawg courtesy of William G. and Dixie and now I get to go to the school of my dreams! Ideally, I'll have the grades to be eligible for UGA's Grady school of journalism, if not, I'll hopefully major in consumer journalism through the college of Family and Consumer Sciences. I'm going to look at apartments this weekend. I'm a bit nervous to moving to a big town, but I have friends and family there, so I'm excited!

So only 5 weeks until I'm done in Milledgeville, and off to Bonnaroo, then another 2 weeks, and I'm off to Camp Country Lad then I move to the Classic City! I'm pretty excited.

Cold Day in July (well almost!)

Today in Milledgeville, its COLD! It's almost May and its barely 60 degrees! Moving on (I'm in the library because shorts and a tshirt are too cold to be outside in right now), things are truly coming around. I just got back to my favorite college town from Griffin where I spent the night. I got to wrangle at SharpTop this weekend with my friend Lauren (who also lives in Millyvegas!) for a group of families from Atlanta and Athens, and had a blast! Despite my car pitching an absolute temper tantrum on Friday night that ended in me sitting beside I-75 for a while, things were great. I drove back to Griffin yesterday morning, spent the day with friends and my sister, got some Algebra help from Mrs. Dee (my lifesaver for 7 years now. She gets major kudos for putting up with me for this long!) and then ate dinner with my parents. It was great to see my dogs and do some laundry.
Back to school- I've found a place to live, a friend from church has an empty room in his apartment that is already furnished that he is kindly letting me use until my semester is over, then its really party time! I'll head to Atlanta for a Passion Pit concert, then to BONNAROO!!! To cap off my summer, I've agreed to work for Camp Country Lad, in TN, where I attended as a kid as a counselor (I'm psyched!).
So this week will be full of Algebra, English, and Freshman Experience classes, church on Wednesday and Thursday, going to see a buddy's band on Thursday night, and possibly Athens this weekend for a Perpetual Groove concert, Relay for Life, and the Athens Twilight Cycling Race! Cheers!

Homeless and Happy

Being an actual person is wonderful. Taking Back Sunday has a song that says, "what does it feel like to be a ghost." This is how I felt DAILy in Milledgeville wearing that stupid uniform. I've earned a new life, simply by stepping up to the plate and leaving ROTC. I've crashed at 3 different people's apartments on 3 different nights, another tonight, but strangely enough, while most would be freaking out over not having a "permanent residence," I'm thrilled to be able to live again. Being able to be Sam again, not Johnston, not William, not kid, not you, but Sam, makes my day! I leave for another weekend at Sharp Top Cove tomorrow, and I'm very excited to see not only what God does for these kids I'll be serving, but also what he has in store for me! As I sit on the GCSU lawn, listen to Dave Matthews, and soak up some rays and write this random blog, I am for once happy and content. No I may not have tons of money, or a guaranteed bed tonight, but I know God has put me here for a reason, and for that, I can't complain. This morning, after class, was spent job hunting, I've applied 10 places, and have a possible home. For this I'm thankful, and hopeful! I'm reading A River Runs Through It; and in it the Reverend says, "the Lord has blessed us all today... it's just that he has been particularly good to me." I know this is quite selfish, however, I really think God has had a say in my week, and I'm grateful. Please pray for the kids who will be attending STC this weekend, that God will change their lives, just as he has changed mine! Below is a picture of the lawn today, a green wonderland!

The Great Escape- Literallyyy

Today I dropped out of GMC's cadet corps. I am now officially a commuter student! I have dropped down to 12 hours this quarter so I can get a job. I'm currently homeless, but I'll manage, the Lord never puts us in situations we can't handle. I'm going job shopping tomorrow before and after classes, so fingers are crossed. God has put me in Milledgeville for a reason, and I really do hope I can find some way to serve Him. I am attending St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, where they have a college youth group, and have met great people. This group took me in with open arms, and I'm so grateful the Lord put me in this church family. I'm currently being a moocher, sitting at a table with an orange umbrella, drinking free water and using the wireless at Milledgeville's new Jittery Joe's coffee franchise (the BEST coffee from Athens!), I'm praying hard, and doing my best to not get discouraged, or get too sick from the pollen. I know money is going to be extremely tight, but I'm going to grow up fast, and learn how to manage my money. As overwhelming as today has been, I'm still confident that God is pushing me to stay here in Milledgeville for the fall at GCSU, and I'm growing more and more excited about what this new venture has in store!
On a side note, I'm listening to a weird mixture of music, mostly the Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers, with a weird mix of new electronica thrown in: Passion Pit, STS9, and Pretty Lights are blowing up my car radio and my headphones! Also, congrats to my old riding instructor, Nick Cwick, who rode my horse Beni at Chattahoochee Hills this past weekend and finished a stunning 3rd place in a field of over 20 horses! Yay Nick and Beni!
So it's now time to go review my Algebra homework (eeeewwwww), and to go drive across town to a prospective job spot. Please keep me in your prayers. I'm living my life to the fullest, and leaning on the Lord. Cheers!

Being Grown Up Isn't Fun

This week has been a living hell. I moved back into my dorm at military school on Wednesday, and things started out bad. I wasn't allowed to attend church on Wednesday night, and classes began Thursday. Classes aren't bad, and I did get to sneak away with Wes to GCSU's Battle of the Bands, which wasn't half bad for a bunch of rookie musicians. Friday was the worst day I've had in a LONG time, and definitely the worst I've had since moving to Milledgeville. After class on Friday morning, an officer in the Army who is paid to work at GMC and be a drill sergeant, said some things to me that I really took to heart. I cried for the first time in weeks, and that was just the start. I had a few detention hours to work off (detention in college. really is this a joke?!), so I went outside in class A uniform- a long sleeved oxford, tie, wool pants, and patent leather shoes. Not realizing how humid it was outside, I was quite dehydrated, and paid for it. I then made the mistake of locking my knees in formation, resulting in me passing out, and receiving 10 more hours for "physical cowardice." After this episode, I then had a few more hours to finish (not including the newly implemented ones, mind you), a few guys were cutting up, which ended up making us do pushups first on the asphalt which was scorching, then on gravel that had glass in it. I cut my wrist on a piece of glass; at that point, I was done. I had reached the end of my rope.
To make a long story short, I am doing everything in my power tomorrow to get out of this cadet program. Milledgeville is growing on me, but this school continues to try my patience big time.

Oh Milledgeville, How I've Not Missed You

I'm writing this from my dorm. Spring quarter starts tomorrow, and I'm dreading everything about another quarter here at Georgia Military College (aka the cesspool of the south). I've been handed a new roommate, who's name I can't pronounce, and who listens to music that would make me deaf really quick. Tonight, he refuses to sleep, hence I'm blogging away. Expect numerous blog posts this quarter, as I'll have nothing to do but study, blog, and sleep.
Classes begin tomorrow. I'm taking English 1101 (I dropped it in the fall), World History II, Freshman Experience (whatever that is), and unfortunately, Remedial Math, because my SAT score SUCKED. Hopefully, things will go better than I expect, but I'm not holding my breath.
On the plus side though, my Ole Miss application is ready to be sent off via the internet, and I have the cash to get a ticket to see Passion Pit in June!!! Tomorrow entails lunch with Chandler and Mary Katherine (my favorite Griffin ladies at GCSU), so hopefully that will be a morale boost.
Oh and one more thing----- the best coffee place in Athens, Jittery Joes, is opening a franchise in Millydump this week! Mucho controversy is going on downtown, as it is opening across the street from the weird hippy place, Blackbird, but I'll be frequenting J.J.'s, as their caramello is divine.
Ciao for now.

Spring has Sprung, Changes are Being Made

I'm writing this from my parent's house in Griffin. Its been a whirlwind few weeks, spring break has been fun, and now its time to buckle down again. I came home 3 weeks ago to Griffin, spent a few days with the family, and then went to Athens for a fun 4 days with friends. I stayed with my great friend Molly, and got to let loose for a few days. We did dinners, downtown, ΣN and KΣ parties, and had a blast. I had the opportunity to go to a ΣK philanthropy function Sunday night (watching the Office on a big screen on the back lawn, and eating dinner for Relay for Life) with my friend Callie Walker, who also went downtown with me. I got to see my buddies Will and Nathan as well as my close high school friends Brett and Sarah. The weekend was definitely worth the short drive to Clark County.
I drove back to Milledgeville on Sunday night, spent the night with my friends, The Thompson family, and then headed home to Griffin on Monday. While I had been home the week before, I began stripping the tile out of a bathroom at my parent's house, so I finished that up, and then packed for a trip to one of my favorite cities in America, Charleston. I drove to Charleston, SC (or Chas, as the locals call it) on Tuesday morning, and after a long trip, finally arrived. I ate dinner with the Thompsons, who had driven up the day before, at Hank's Seafood Restaurant, and then got a hotel room. The food at the restaurant was superb, and just the perfect way to kick off a great week.
Wednesday involved sleeping late, and then my venture downtown to begin my acquaintance with the College of Charleston. CofC sits in the middle of the historic district and covers a few blocks. It was love at first sight for me, and I immediately wanted to transfer to this school for fall. I browsed the campus for a few hours on my own, then took a guided tour. The campus is just what I'm looking for, big but not too large, small classes, a key location, and best of all, a great campus life. I ate dinner that night at Poe's Tavern on Sullivan's Island (right outside of downtown Chas) and had the best fish tacos I've ever consumed. I then crashed at my hotel so I could hold the next day's worth.

Thursday was eventful. I met with Admissions and Financial Aid counselors from CofC, as well as went to the beach (Isle of Palms). I browsed a bit downtown, and got more immersed in the CofC campus. Thursday night included a great dinner at Red's Icehouse on Sullivan's Island (best fried shrimp). This place was legit. I got the pleasure of eating, and being able to watch the shrimp boats come into the port, so cool. I then returned to my hotel, and packed for my journey back to GA.
Friday morning, I left the hotel, and went to the beach on Sullivan's Island, then proceeded to get into my car, and drive.
Easter was today, and it was good. Emma and I took a separate car than the parentals and drove to Thomaston after church. We spent our day with our grandparents and then drove back home. I have 4 days left of break. Time to live it up. In the words of Max from Where the Wild Things are, "Let the wild rumpus begin!"