(no subject)
Well once again, I'm in writing workshop class and I'm done the work I was supposed to do coz I'm goddamn proactive like that. It's 2:10 pm and I have 40 minutes to look like I'm busy and productive and I guess that means and update.
So I was thinking about graduating today-whether I would miss high school or not-and I realized that high school doesn't just mean waking up at 6 am and driving to fucking cowland Flourtown or sitting through 80 minute blocks of boringness. It's not just school that's ending. It's an era.
I mean for me, I think (actually I know) the most important things happened to me outside of school. They had nothing to do with school. But my high school days are probably the last time I'll be able to be this carefree. I have a place to live, food to eat, and money in the bank from my various part time and summer jobs over the years. I don't have to worry about paying for books and student loans and still having spending money. I will next year. I don't know if that'll change the way I act or not.
Anyway, I decided to just brain fart out some memories of the things that have been most important to me these past four years-things I'll REALLY miss and already do. Even if I can still do them, it will never be the same as it was/is now.
Driving around University City until 4 in the morning with Lara and Mere, trying to find good parties, blasting embarrassing music with the windows down, and not having to worry about going home because each of our moms thought we were at the other one's house.
Being really bored in East Falls with Mike and Tommy and sometimes Courtney and going up to Penn Charter, having soap fights in the rain, and drinking cough syrup to get high.
Taking the train up to Elkins Park to meet Chris and Colin and wandering around and smoking up, especially in the summer when I'd spend the majority of my afternoons there after I got off work at the A Plus, laying around in parks and on playgrounds listening to Chris's hilarious non sequetirs and memorizing the lyrics to shitty punk songs. Later, when Colin got his license, driving around, calling people to pick up, pulling over to smoke, and going to the Olney Dollar store to spend $14 on candy and Olde Tyme Cola that was dusty from sitting in crates for months or years.
"Natural crystals!" "No, that's cocaine."
Being in love with half of the Chi-Town Skinhead Mafia after HITS 2002.
Making mass trips with Mike and Lara to Main Street and eating at Riverside Pizza and shooting pool at River City Billiards. Fighting over whether to take Ridge or the tracks.
Getting drunk before going to Egypt's Spoiled Rotten Night or Penn Charter mixers and stupidly acting drunker.
Thinking we were really cool because we could buy beer at Philadeli. Taking it back to Lara's house and getting drunk in her basement.
Getting all slutted up with Kait and going down to South Street, then tripping on Corecedin and Ambien and such.
Going to shows at the Killtime and thinking it was the coolest fucking place I had ever been. Kill Your Idols promising my mom they'd look after me.
Hanging out at Mike C's; somehow there was always enough beer and porn to go around. Listening to music, having debates, and waking up to pancakes and Frank Sinatra.
Going into Leehee Fai and trying on gowns that I couldn't afford in my wildest dreams.
Hanging out down by the river-under the Strawberry Mansion Bridge or at the boathouses. Usually drunk.
Drinking in Christina's basement and her dad yelling, "You havin' a beer party!? Who's the birthday girl?" Playing links, seeing old Saint Bridget's people, and surprising Christina with how much I could drink without puking.
Going to shows at the Pontiac; having tourists and photographers come down just to see the punks lined up and take pictures. Being paid to be interviewed and photographed with Chad for a "French magazine." Drinking and smoking up on Orianna Street without caring who saw. Sneaking 40s in our jackets and drinking them while the bands played.
Going to Shampoo on Wednesday nights, making fun of Goth kids, and staying out until the first morning train. Going on Sunday nights and getting molested by short Mexican men.
Driving around in Courtney's car and getting lost in bad neighborhoods while hitting small animals.
Taking the Chinese bus up to New York for day trips. Nearly getting trampled once when there was a riot on the way home because not everyone could fit.
Going up to NYC for Vive Le Punk with Rachel and Cassandra, staying at Rachel's friend's apartment on the Lower East Side, randomly meeting up with Matt and Bethany and drinking together all night.
Various public transportation adventures.
Hanging out with the beautiful people at Denim.
Wandering around Center City until my feet hurt. Always ending up at the South Street Diner.
Visiting Mike's grandmom down the shore; laying out, swimming, and eating lots of comfort food.
Drinking Pabst at Brett's house, then going to shows at the Bungalow. Drunkenly meeting more people than I will probably ever remember. Hanging out in the side alley.
Hanging out at FDR.
Watching Chris and Kyle tool around on his Ebay-bought moped with balding tires and substandard breaks and occasionaly almost kill themselves.
Cruising around in Steph's Mustang convertible, especially on Tuesdays in the spring. Pretending to go to art class but just chilling instead.
Sitting in Tommy's basement for hours on end, mostly on weeknights. Attempting to play Mario Kart and sucking. Doing shots and drinking 40s.
Wandering around the Rittenhouse Area with Joe; making out on park benches; going bowling in Upper Darby.
Getting an immense amount of post-breakup support from an unlikely place-- school: Em, Rachel, Ko, Kate N, and random people.
Hopping the Greyhound to D.C. for weekends spent partying in Lara's dorm.
Going to the VFW; drinking way too many 22s of Old E. and being trashed on the bus.
Chrome!
Grinding obscenely with Mike at school dances.
Hour long long distance telephone heart to hearts with Courtney.
Late night drunken AIM conversations with Bosco and Michael.
There's a ton more. Maybe I'll continue later.
So I was thinking about graduating today-whether I would miss high school or not-and I realized that high school doesn't just mean waking up at 6 am and driving to fucking cowland Flourtown or sitting through 80 minute blocks of boringness. It's not just school that's ending. It's an era.
I mean for me, I think (actually I know) the most important things happened to me outside of school. They had nothing to do with school. But my high school days are probably the last time I'll be able to be this carefree. I have a place to live, food to eat, and money in the bank from my various part time and summer jobs over the years. I don't have to worry about paying for books and student loans and still having spending money. I will next year. I don't know if that'll change the way I act or not.
Anyway, I decided to just brain fart out some memories of the things that have been most important to me these past four years-things I'll REALLY miss and already do. Even if I can still do them, it will never be the same as it was/is now.
Driving around University City until 4 in the morning with Lara and Mere, trying to find good parties, blasting embarrassing music with the windows down, and not having to worry about going home because each of our moms thought we were at the other one's house.
Being really bored in East Falls with Mike and Tommy and sometimes Courtney and going up to Penn Charter, having soap fights in the rain, and drinking cough syrup to get high.
Taking the train up to Elkins Park to meet Chris and Colin and wandering around and smoking up, especially in the summer when I'd spend the majority of my afternoons there after I got off work at the A Plus, laying around in parks and on playgrounds listening to Chris's hilarious non sequetirs and memorizing the lyrics to shitty punk songs. Later, when Colin got his license, driving around, calling people to pick up, pulling over to smoke, and going to the Olney Dollar store to spend $14 on candy and Olde Tyme Cola that was dusty from sitting in crates for months or years.
"Natural crystals!" "No, that's cocaine."
Being in love with half of the Chi-Town Skinhead Mafia after HITS 2002.
Making mass trips with Mike and Lara to Main Street and eating at Riverside Pizza and shooting pool at River City Billiards. Fighting over whether to take Ridge or the tracks.
Getting drunk before going to Egypt's Spoiled Rotten Night or Penn Charter mixers and stupidly acting drunker.
Thinking we were really cool because we could buy beer at Philadeli. Taking it back to Lara's house and getting drunk in her basement.
Getting all slutted up with Kait and going down to South Street, then tripping on Corecedin and Ambien and such.
Going to shows at the Killtime and thinking it was the coolest fucking place I had ever been. Kill Your Idols promising my mom they'd look after me.
Hanging out at Mike C's; somehow there was always enough beer and porn to go around. Listening to music, having debates, and waking up to pancakes and Frank Sinatra.
Going into Leehee Fai and trying on gowns that I couldn't afford in my wildest dreams.
Hanging out down by the river-under the Strawberry Mansion Bridge or at the boathouses. Usually drunk.
Drinking in Christina's basement and her dad yelling, "You havin' a beer party!? Who's the birthday girl?" Playing links, seeing old Saint Bridget's people, and surprising Christina with how much I could drink without puking.
Going to shows at the Pontiac; having tourists and photographers come down just to see the punks lined up and take pictures. Being paid to be interviewed and photographed with Chad for a "French magazine." Drinking and smoking up on Orianna Street without caring who saw. Sneaking 40s in our jackets and drinking them while the bands played.
Going to Shampoo on Wednesday nights, making fun of Goth kids, and staying out until the first morning train. Going on Sunday nights and getting molested by short Mexican men.
Driving around in Courtney's car and getting lost in bad neighborhoods while hitting small animals.
Taking the Chinese bus up to New York for day trips. Nearly getting trampled once when there was a riot on the way home because not everyone could fit.
Going up to NYC for Vive Le Punk with Rachel and Cassandra, staying at Rachel's friend's apartment on the Lower East Side, randomly meeting up with Matt and Bethany and drinking together all night.
Various public transportation adventures.
Hanging out with the beautiful people at Denim.
Wandering around Center City until my feet hurt. Always ending up at the South Street Diner.
Visiting Mike's grandmom down the shore; laying out, swimming, and eating lots of comfort food.
Drinking Pabst at Brett's house, then going to shows at the Bungalow. Drunkenly meeting more people than I will probably ever remember. Hanging out in the side alley.
Hanging out at FDR.
Watching Chris and Kyle tool around on his Ebay-bought moped with balding tires and substandard breaks and occasionaly almost kill themselves.
Cruising around in Steph's Mustang convertible, especially on Tuesdays in the spring. Pretending to go to art class but just chilling instead.
Sitting in Tommy's basement for hours on end, mostly on weeknights. Attempting to play Mario Kart and sucking. Doing shots and drinking 40s.
Wandering around the Rittenhouse Area with Joe; making out on park benches; going bowling in Upper Darby.
Getting an immense amount of post-breakup support from an unlikely place-- school: Em, Rachel, Ko, Kate N, and random people.
Hopping the Greyhound to D.C. for weekends spent partying in Lara's dorm.
Going to the VFW; drinking way too many 22s of Old E. and being trashed on the bus.
Chrome!
Grinding obscenely with Mike at school dances.
Hour long long distance telephone heart to hearts with Courtney.
Late night drunken AIM conversations with Bosco and Michael.
There's a ton more. Maybe I'll continue later.