Washer Toss (and important life changing things).

This is the first post from the OtHeR SiDe!

Things have been busy since I graduated. Friday was my actual graduation ceremony, which was held in the atrium of my school's architecture building. It was so casual - I mean, that's what I get for only going to my departmental convocation and not the big student body graduation - I never even wore a cap and gown. But I'm okay with that.

We all dressed up, ate cake and drank wine, and listened to some of the CHID professors give speeches. Then they called up the 55 of us graduating from my department in some nondescript order, we got these little certificates and a CHID pint glass, shook hands with all of the professors from the department (though everyone was hugging the ones who'd made an impact in their time at UW - for me that was only 3 people) and then they read these little blurbs we'd written about ourselves a few weeks back. I don't know why, but I was so, so nervous as I waited in line to have them call my name, because I couldn't remember what I'd written about myself. I mean, I should have known I could trust myself to not embarrass myself in front of the few hundred people sitting in the audience, and that if I'd been given the task to sit down and pen something that would be read aloud while I stood helplessly on a stage, I wouldn't let myself down. But I was sweating. But I went up there, fingers crossed secretly behind my back, and one of my favorite professors Terry (a guy who looks like a black haired Sawyer from Lost) read from a sheet that I was a transfer student, enjoyed CHID because it let me be who I wanted to be, loved to travel and wanted to some day write young adult fiction, and was starting out my post-collegiate life touring with my band. Not bad, Kristina. Not bad.

And that was it.

I had my parents and my brother there, which was all I needed. It was a nice time. That night I went out to the bar with my friends, which was necessary. I had a really, really great night, and actually made a few new friends while I was out. My roommate Justin has this friend Millie he always talks about, and even though we've lived together for nearly 2 years, I'd never actually met the elusive Millie. But she came out with us and she was a lovely (real) person.
The only downside to meeting her is that it quashed my theory that Justin actually just has a lot of imaginary female friends he pretends to hang out with. Kind of disappointing actually; it was hilarious to imagine he was just sitting in his car for a few hours when he was "meeting Millie for lunch" or something. Haha. I'm a terrible person.

The next morning I went to the eye doctor, got some sweet new glasses, and then headed back to my parents' house for the graduation party they were throwing for me. I had such a good time at the party. It was a really nice mix of family, friends from high school, friends from the present, and people from my dad's work. My mom outdid herself (like usual) with a bunch of amazing food, people gave me presents (awesoooome) and my parents brought out this super funny game called "Washer Toss". The funny part is not the game itself - it's pretty much like horseshoes, only safer. The funny part is that it's called washer toss, and the point of the game is essentially that you're tossing washers at a goal on the opposite side. Cheap entertainment.

So anyway, we played that for most of the day. I was terrible when I was playing with my friends, but later on in the day after they'd all gone home and it was me and my dad against my uncle Dale and our family friend Carrie, I was doing pretty awesome. I doubt my friends will ever believe me.

I was really grateful that day for how many wonderful people I have in my life. I had relatives there from another state, people from my dad's work who really only know me through the things he's told them about me, and friends from high school I haven't seen in ages. Brittany was there too, which meant a lot to me. I'm proud to have finished college (and I got above a 3.0 too, so impressed with myself!) but I think I'm more proud to have such amazing friends and family.

Since then I've been trying to strike a balance between enjoying my now permanent state of "summer break" and also scrambling to get ready for tour. This means all day games days with friends on Sunday, three different trips to Target for various trip/packing items, spending hours rolling tshirts, and multiple movie parties in my brand new footie pajamas.

Also, I am trying to finish Avatar: The Last Airbender before I leave for tour because the movie comes out on July 2nd, which is during my time on the road. I only have the 92 minute series finale left and I am a little emotional about it.
I'm not really the type of person just to love something because it's popular or because my friends love it - I actually, legitimately have a really strong emotional attachment to this show and these characters. It's like, a complete fluke of nature that this show was aired on Nickelodeon and targeted toward kids -I've seen actual animé written for adults that have less substance than Avatar. I love it.

So as I am typing this I just got a phone call from Mike Lombardo, and upon answering I hear, (in a distinctly female voice) "KRISTIN HORNER!"
It was of course Hayley Hoover (who just can't let the malt liquor video go) asking me to do a hugely inconvenient, annoying, ridiculous favor for her. Typical. (I'm totally kidding).
Before she hung up she said (and I quote): "Tell your blog readers how I am great."

I have agreed to partake in way too many projects between now and when I leave for tour, which is a little concerning, but I guess I'm never the type to just take a week off. I can sleep when I'm dead. And hopefully these projects should be leading to some really awesome videos to post before tour, when it's possible I may be kind of MIA for a few weeks.

So things are good. Kristinaland is rich and thriving.

Last google search: Ke$ha outfits (OoooOooOoo why was I searching this? xD)
Chipotle burritos: 12