dunhaven; ic community.

It is really, really hard to believe that classes are almost done. Finals next week, and then graduation, which I think about half my family members are flying in for, and then ?????????? The rest of my life ?????????

(I'll be staying here for now. Just in case anyone was worried.)

I have an idea. And maybe the first part of the idea is to admit to you that I'm sharing memories with someone I thought was fictional. Lily Evans Potter lives in my head. I think by now it's probably a reality that most of us on the network (and maybe in the town?) have these memories. It isn't up to me to understand why. That's not my thing.

What I'd like to do is give you a spot to tell your story. I'm a writer -- honestly, I'm just a really bad unpublished poet -- but I spend my day taking care of my parents. We've got a really big living room. There's space out back. What I'm proposing is something akin to a writer's salon. You could come over, no questions asked. We'd have set times where we could gather.

You can talk to people? But most of all, you can write down your experiences. We can collect them physically or on GoogleDocs. I'm a democratic soul and am happy to take a straight up vote. But what I really want to get down to is by telling our stories, we might help other people. We might make it easier for them to live with these memories and emotions inside them. What I'm thinking (and hoping) is that this is meant to connect us. So, instead of living with trauma and I don't know ... shame? We can work it out together.

Would anyone be interested? Or should I shut up forever?

EDITED TO ADD:
Anonymous thoughts and commenters welcome!

FRIENDS:

Ha, ha, that feeling when you're working on your thesis and after a couple hours, you realize that you wrote all of your work in Elvish instead of English. I can't just pass this off as being a super nerd, can I?

WHO: Kai Silva
WHEN: sometime during spring break
WHERE: THE BEACH IN GEORGIA
SUMMARY: Kai's enjoying the sand and remembers an adventure Aragorn had.

( The sand was warm under his feet, and Kai wriggled his toes into it, feeling himself sink down a little until they were covered. )

( instagram post! )

It's Friday, everyone. I don't know about you, but I'm here for that. ✌🏼

SPRING BREAK FAM

Just in case anyone else needs the outlook of favorable weather to help them power through the remainder of this week! ( Cut for image! )

SORCHA

( Cut for length! )

SPRING BREAK TRAVEL CREW

I needed a break from so much homework, so I went ahead and did a little more digging for Spring Break, because it seems like the most acceptable distraction from school. Given the timing, I thought that it might be good to get things sorted out sooner rather than later when it comes to booking so. I found this house that I think would suit our needs nicely, both in size and location. For the dates I mentioned before (March 24-March 28), it would be a total of $60 for each person. I'm happy to throw more money in, if someone needs it, since this was my scheme in the first place.

Outside of that, we'd need two people to drive so we can get there in the first place. I would volunteer, but I barely trust my car to get me from one side of Dunhaven to the other, so we might want to skip that. Given the full kitchen and all that, we can probably try to not burn the place down a few times, but we can probably do a grocery run there. I'm taking my waffle maker, though. Seems kind of illegal for them to not have one, but I'll let it slide. Also, you can fight among yourselves which two of you is stuck on the sofa bed.

If that works for you guys, just let me know and I'll get everything booked for us. I'm pretty excited and am glad you guys were as into this as I was.

Okay, calling my mom was a dick move, whoever you are, but it's fine. Whatever. I probably deserved that. Calling my place of work with false complaints? Seriously, fuck you.

People!!!! Look at what my grandparents got me!!! ( Cut for images! )

Her name is Clementine and I am in love. Obviously she has to live with my grandparents while I'm still in the dorms (and I honestly think that this was just a ploy in them trying to give me another reason to come home and visit them more than I already do, but I am okay with this bit of manipulation), but she's perfect and sweet and she fell asleep in my lap almost immediately. This is the best day.

( instagram post! )

( instagram post )

I don't have photo evidence of how good of a day today was, but I did have waffles for breakfast and lunch on top of it being Friday so I'll let you come to your own conclusions.

FILTERED TO CASH, JORDAN, VIOLA, ZORA, MAL, KAI, & FRANCIS

Hello!

Spring break is in about a month and I don't know if everyone has plans or not. If not, I was thinking that I very much am tired of winter and would like to use at least one of my spring breaks as a college student doing more or less stereotypical college student things during my spring break which basically means finding a beach. Less wild and crazy beach and more just a beach where I can sit in the sun for a few hours and remember what vitamin D feels like.

That being said, I was wondering if any of you would be interested in joining me for a bit of a road trip? It doesn't have to be for the full week or anything -- maybe leaving on Sunday and then coming back Thursday? As for destination, I was thinking Savannah might be nice? I've only been a couple times when I was younger and I think it would be fun to see older and with friends. There's beach things we could do, but so much else to see and good food to eat. It's also about an eight hour drive from Dunhaven, which doesn't seem too painful if it's a roadtrip together. Also, to keep costs down, I figured an Airbnb would work great; Cash and I had good luck with one in January, so I think that means I have a skill in picking them out. I found one that would fit us all for $60/night that looks real nice.

Anyway, let me know what you guys think. I'm pretty sure I'm going with or without you all, now that I've gotten myself all hyped about it, but it would be more fun with friends. Obviously, I totally get it if you already have plans, but let me know and I can start getting stuff booked!

We are a few days into what is (hopefully?!) the last semester of my undergraduate career.

Whaaaaaat??? It's gone by so fast.

LGBTQ FRIENDS (not including Francis this time ;) ):

Sooooooo... these dreams and all that. Has anyone's dreams not matched up with, you know, your own sexuality, gender identity, etc? It's not making me question anything I feel (yet?), but I know what's probably coming, so I was curious how other people have felt about it. And what if I meet someone who's dreaming about Arwen one day and they have expectations? Am I worrying about stuff that's just not going to be as weird as I'm worried about?

FRANCIS:

Hi. I just wanted to say I really like you.

( instagram post from kai )

FRIENDS OF KAI + KAI

I was thinking that with Kai (hi, Kai) having been away for his birthday and then missing some of the Chinese New Year celebrations out there because of having to come back for school, that we should probably help him out with a bit of both? I was doing some research on traditions and it seems like there's a lot of food and fireworks and family, all of which I think we can probably handle, even if it's chosen family. It won't be a parade, but we can try.

Anyway, I don't know what everyone's schedules are looking like, but I was thinking we could do something Friday evening at Fitzwilliam? I'm assuming everyone will be back on or around campus by then and we're already so good at taking over the kitchen space already, so why not do it more? As long as no one tries to put anything crazy in the microwave (you know who you are) we should be golden.

I’m sorry if this sounds stupid, but I am so excited! I KNOW HIS NAME.

This sad, uncomfortable fellow I’ve been dreaming of ... he’s got a name. I’m not searching in the dark anymore and that feels like a breakthrough.

It has been a very long time since I was in gymnastics, but this has me wishing I had never stopped. I know I'm late in seeing this, but holy crap.

REMINGTON

Heyyyyyy, gorgeous. I've been thinking, and I have an idea to run by you but, before I do, I want you to know that I'm just putting this out there for you to think about and there is zero pressure or expectation. You don't even have to answer right now! I know there's a lot more to think about for you than me, so I completely understand if you need to take some time to mull it over before you respond.

But I'm getting ahead of myself and nervous rambling and realize I haven't even put the idea out there, yet, so here goes. What do you think about you and me getting a place together?

KAI, ELLE, MAL
( cut for images! )

In case you were wondering what all that shrieking was last night, Dunhaven, I can't be faulted. 🙌🏽 🙌🏽 🙌🏽

Taking FULL advantage of the break between January and spring terms to go home for some of the Chinese New Year celebrations. My mom cried a little when I broke the news.

The only thing I regret already is that I can't stay for the parade, because there is really nothing like it on our side of the Pacific. :((((((

FRANCIS:

You know, it's not too late to come with me.