My spring break has generally been the same for the past five years or so. I pick a video game from Christmas I never got around to playing, park my tush in the groove I’ve carved out in the family couch, and play all day, every day for a week. Last year I did try to switch it up a bit – instead of playing a video game, I read the entire Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. Reading would usually be considered more productive than video games, but I don’t think I learned anything from reading 1200 pages about demons and a potentially incestuous romance.
It’s dull, but I quite like spending my free time decomposing. My natural instinct as a part of the teenage species is to laze, and I embrace any opportunity to allow nature to take it’s course. But this spring break has been different. I’ve actually done things – real, get dressed and put on mascara things. I went shopping with my friend, saw a late night showing of The Birds with my mom and met Tippi Hedron, visited my grandma, visited the college of my dreams, ate interesting Greek food at an interesting Greek restaurant with interesting Greek people, hung out with my old friend who moved away months ago, and went to the mall…again.While all those things have been fun in their own way, I find myself longing to turn on my Wii and regretting that I haven’t used this time to finally finish Mario Galaxy 2.
I usually have a fairly good understanding of my own behavior, but I just don’t get my feelings right now. I should be ecstatic that I had time to relax and actually enjoy life. In some ways, I am. I don’t regret doing the things I’ve done this break. I guess I just regret not having enough time to do everything I’m prevented from doing while I’m in school. I regret not having control over time. But alas, ’tis impossible to control time. I still have three days left to vegetate starting…now. Man v. Food and Pokemon: Soul Silver await!
I’ve always had a terrible sweet tooth. If I have the option of adding sugar to a meal, you better bet your sweet tush that chocolate or a fruity sauce will find its way onto my plate. I never thought I could eat more sweets than I have in the past, but the ridiculous amount of stress placed on me since the beginning of second semester has turned me into a sugar fiend. Thanks to Ms. Albright’s surprisingly rigorous gym class, I actually haven’t gained any weight. I’ve probably developed Type 2 diabetes and my teeth may disintegrate the next time I eat raw carrots, but at least I don’t need to buy new pants. Still, my diet needed an overhaul if I wanted to live to see Saw XXIV. Thank God Lent began on Wednesday.
Every year since the fourth grade, I’ve given up all food considered to be a “dessert” – cake, cookies, candy, ice cream, etc. – for Lent. Despite the fact that I haven’t been to church in six years and my speech is thickly laced with violations to commandment number three, the Catholic upbringing of my younger days has permanently burned quite a few traditional Christian events into my yearly calendar. I’ve only successfully completed my yearly Lent challenge twice, but I look forward to the struggle every year. Don’t ask me why depriving myself of something I love excites me. I suppose it’s because I’ve tried the whole “being happy” deal, only to realize that I don’t know what to do with myself when I’m not under extreme mental pressure. I’m only happy when I’m stressed and unhappy.
It’s only been two days, and I’m dying here. Starbucks has been offering me those divine petite desserts for free because of their anniversary special, and it’s hard to turn down tiramisu on a stick. It also doesn’t help that the Red Scare conveniently hit Planet Gabi on Wednesday, leaving me with a more intense desire for chocolate than before. But, I have prevailed. Once the withdrawal stage is over, things will only get easier. Wish me luck, comrades.
