Since Friday was the 4th of July, we had a cookout here. Hamburgers, hot dogs, chips. The whole shebang. Unfortunately, my cousins and brother were obnoxious, as usual. I, honestly, can’t ever imagine being that annoying at that age. I might have been from time to time, but, overall, I just don’t think I was.

Anyway, it was raining off and on most of the evening, which sucked because the point of the cookout was sort of to be outside. The kids stayed outdoors most of the time, though, which was nice since they were so annoying. And we really don’t have the best outdoor lighting anyway.

The fireworks started at ten, so around 9:30 I rode with my grandparents up to my mom’s house to watch them. Thankfully, it hadn’t rained too much at her house, but in town is was pouring down. The fireworks weren’t nearly as exciting at they used to be, and I got bit my mom a stupid mosquito - on the hand, no less.

But we had s’mores afterward, which sort of made it okay. Nothing to extravagant, but it was still nice.

I feel like I’m starting experience cabin fever. This seems to happen every couple of weeks if I don’t get out of the house too much, and lately I haven’t been out much. Just a meeting for work last Monday, taking my brother to get some clothes from home and out on the front porch. It’s pathetic, and I really shouldn’t let myself get this way, but with the way the weather’s been lately, I really don’t feel like straying too far.

While I was at my mom’s with Blaine, I noticed she was looking through some linoleum for, presumably, the bathroom floor. Her and Bart have been working on the house on Sundays, trying to get things done. I think she’s hoping to move back in with him before her next lease is up. It was one of those really earthly looking designs. I think it would look really nice with one of those vessel sinks I saw on TV. They have some really neat designs, like faucets that come out of the medicine cabinet door.

I always like watched home improvement shows. I guess I think I would be fun to do something like that. I never thought too much about it before. Definitely too late for a career choice, not that I’d want to. I think it’s just more fun in theory than in practice. I doubt I’d have the patience for that line of work. Some people are just too picky to please.

Graduation was last night. Things went well. It was a bit of a snooze with all of the speeches, but I guess that’s just part of it. I was basically starving through the whole thing. I had to be there by six, so I didn’t have time to eat before. But afterwards, I went to eat at IHOP with my grandparents and Allyson, Mitch and Tori. By then I think I was so hungry that I just got filled up really fast. Then I came home, watched some TV and laid around. My back has kind of been bothering me. I’m not sure what the problem is.

Then we got a phone call at about four this morning. My grandpa’s sister, Margaret, died. She hadn’t been doing too well for a while, so it really wasn’t unexpected, but it still sucks. The sad thing is that just yesterday morning my grandparents went to a funeral for their niece. If it’s true what they say about death coming in three’s, then I feel like I need to go get a life insurance quote stat because it’s just as expensive to die as it is to live, which is just really pathetic when you look at it that way.

Anyway, tomorrow we’re having a small get together to celebrate graduation. I invited 5 of the girls from my classes. I couldn’t find one of them on MySpace, so I feel really bad about that, but I might just try sending her an email instead, if I can find her email address.

So I have a shopping list to write, so I better get on that now.

Since Mother’s Day was Sunday, which I didn’t really start to realize until a few days before, I decided to cook dinner for my mom and grandma. Naturally, that brings the rest of the family into the mix. Per Grandma’s request, I made manicotti and dirt pudding. Grandma took it upon herself to make 7 layer salad as well. I planned on making it, but I figured it was just better to let her do it since she’d probably hover if I didn’t.

I bought mom a Garth Brooks CD that came with 2 discs and a dvd. We watched the dvd, which was great for laughs while the kids argued over the use of the desktop and laptop. My brother tried to get me to let him use my computer, but I’ve deemed it off limits.

Mom, Bart and Blaine stayed out here until after nine. We dug out the old family videos, which was great for laughs. There were lots of questionable fashion statements. It was nice, though.

Now this Saturday is my open house, so we’ll probably be spending several days cleaning and cooking to prepare for that. Is there no rest in all this madness? I say not.

Okay, so my last post was a little ranty. Let’s start again, shall we? My last day of school is May 8th. I just have a lot of stuff to do before then. I just hope that nothing else comes up between now and then.

I don’t know if we’re doing anything special for my graduation. At this point, I don’t really care so long as I can take a break and breath.

I can’t believe that it’s already May. My dad’s birthday is a couple of days before my graduation. I still haven’t decided if I’m going to invite him to come. I just don’t know if I can deal. I doubt I’ll buy him anything for this birthday either. Maybe men’s jewelry in the form of a pill box. That seems about his speed, though, I doubt the pills would last long.

I hate being so bitter toward my own dad. It’s just really, really hard for me. As much as I want to like him or have a relationship with him, I think that there will just always be too much bad history.

Anyway, I’m not going to worry about any of that. At this point I just need to focus on my final projects and make sure I do well. Otherwise, it’ll put a real damper on graduation.