My best friend is en route to the other side of the world. He'll get there around 11am Louisville time tomorrow. Saying goodbye at the airport was one of the most difficult things I've had to do. It felt surreal, and still does. I already miss him. 79 days.

Aaron leaves on the 11th, and won't be back until December. Three months sounds like such a long time. I'm going to need to keep myself as distracted and busy as possible over that span of time. Maybe I'll focus more on my studies. Maybe I'll go running more often. Maybe I'll learn to cook better. Maybe I'll catch up with old friends. And I can always have late night skypes with Aaron. You know, through all of this, I haven't once questioned that this would work. I know that it will. And I know that when he comes back, it'll be even better than it is now.

So begins a new semester... I'm thinking it will be a stressful one. I've probably signed myself onto too many things. Each group I dedicate myself to is one I truly like; I just really hope I'm not spreading myself too thin. To top off this pity party, Aaron is going to work in Bangkok for three months. My favorite person in the world... will be on the other side of the world. To see that in writing makes it feel so much closer, and so much scarier. I just typed an entire paragraph, listing off my bizarre mixture of feelings, but it's all pretty ineffable. I should simply leave it at this: I'm so proud of him.

It's been a great weekend. Casino success, seeing old friends, and I can call myself someone's girlfriend. So weird and amazing to see that last thought in writing... Can I say again just how lucky I am?

I am a lucky, lucky girl.

I can't get that image out of my head. That smile was so, so much better than any I've ever seen. I feel like I'm finally doing something right.

Signed the lease for an apartment yesterday! One hour bus commute becomes 15 minutes. I'm so pumped.

It's been a crazy past few weeks, and I guess the exhaustion is finally catching up with me. I'm sick for the first time in a year and a half (I suppose that's a pretty impressive track record), but I'm still happy. It's a bizarre cocktail of feelings and I'm feeling strangely okay with it all. Life ain't too shabby.

I've had a spectacular weekend. The National Steel Bridge conference was a blast, and I really enjoyed getting to know everyone on the team better. Being 21 is definitely fun, too. ;)

I am so proud to say that I survived the Spring semester! It was beastly and busy, but I feel really accomplished. Now, for three months of money-making, reading, Redditing, and doing whatever the hell I want. :)