Well, I got through graduation on May 18th without tripping or being remotely UNgraceful (as I tend to be when not in garb). I got to wear my Phi Theta Kappa stole as well as the "olde gold" tassel of summa cum laude, and a red rose for the Art Dept. :) It was bittersweet as the tribute atop my mortarboard read "In Memorium: Badge #100" for my Dad, who passed away during my second semester.

Next step is getting cross-registered for my first semester with Empire State College for a Bachelor's Degree Program in Historical Studies (with a concentration of Women in Medieval History)

I have a great summer job, Monday thru Friday ONLY, as a summer program arts teacher for the local community center. That will leave me weekends FREE for Sterling and the SCA.

BTW: WOLGEMUT will be performing for the July dates at Sterling Renaissance Festival, then will be at the second week of Pennsic War, before finishing their season at the Pennsylvania RenFaire! WooHoo!

One week and one day until I go in and set up my drawings for a 2 person student Art Exhibit at our local Chamber of Commerce. A month long show is a rarity, a TWO student show even more rare, and since the work is my drawings and the other girls' textile designs....is just incredible.

We two were chosen over at least 30 other talented art students for this Senior Show, which will include newspaper coverage and an opening reception. We are both flabbergasted to be singled out (since neither of us feel like our best work was picked for the show!)

Now if I could just wear some spiffy Tudor garb instead of trying to find some non- blue jean civvies in my closet....

*sigh*

I am in my final semester at Cayuga Community College, with graduation set for May18th...summa cum laude and Phi Theta Kappa, with my Associates in Studio Art & Design. I have submitted all the paperwork and have hopes that the financing will be in order *soon* to let me know whether I can continue for my Bachelors through Empire State College...keep your fingers crossed, I want to be a history teacher (who paints in her off-hours)

I have been busier than a one-armed paperhanger with schoolwork since I returned from Great Britain in January, and have only dropped in today because I gave myself an hour of an Easter Break to see what's up!

Counting down the days to see what the *New & Improved* Sterling Performing Arts Center (fka Sterling Renaissance Festival) has in store under the new owners....

Hoping to see, and recognize many of you in the lanes this season!

Be back after graduation :)

Let's say, I sorta missed it :)

I was packing and trying to grab at least a nap before boarding the plane to Great Britain! Wow! What a journey....3 friends together, and Virgin Atlantic destroyed 2 suitcases going out, and one coming back...2 people had to buy luggage to get home with and Virgin Atlantic won't make good on any of them because we had only 7 days to make the claim, and we had to have the reciept for the *purchase of the ORIGINAL luggage* so they'd know what to pay. Needless to say, the reciepts were in the US and we were in GB for 2 weeks. I *don't* recommend Virgin Atlantic.

The Tour itself was a blast though. We were out and about every single day, averaging 5-9 miles on foot as well as using the busses, Tube, and the Chiltern Railway...The British Museum, the British Library, the Museum of London, the Tower, and the highlight(s) of the trip :Warwick Castle and Stonehenge.

 I spent all my souvenir money on GARB books.

However, I am glad to be back home again, I missed my cat terribly and now can dive in to the Spring semester and Faire/SCA garb preparations with glee.

Take care,

Gilly

It has been a crazy month between Finals, Yuleevents, meetings and the standard xmas garbage...now I turn to getting ready for the trip to the UK.

I should be looking forward to it, but as the day of departure gets closer, I become less enthused. It seems like the friends that are making the journey with me, have banded together and left me on the outside looking in. I paid extra for a solo room because I did not want to share space with a total stranger. (Except for the professor and his wife, I don't have even a passing acquaintance with anyone else who's going.) My roomate said that was my decision...so I guess I get to suffer for it and get left out. If it wasn't too damn late I'd get a refund and stay home since apparently I am too much trouble to be around.

Oh well, I guess I go to bed early every evening and spend as much time as possible in the museums.