monsters

Thank God my mom is an accountant!!! She is amazing. Can I just say that one more time? My mom is a fan-freaking-tastic genius of a tax adviser for my fledgling small business. I might also add that I definitely win the award for most forms needed with the least amount of money made. Between the basic 1040, w-2s, a schedule C for self-employment, and the 8615 and all its counterparts for someone who's under the age of 24 with a miniscule share of investment, it's a bit ridiculous. And then we filed the fafsa for a family of 1 who made less than $5000. EFC = 0. YES. I am poor. I need financial aid for grad school. Please help me, o ye who hold the money... preferably in the form of grants. Thank you.

In other news, I have been super stressed out lately. I went to see my counselor, Lynn this last week. I scheduled the appointment not even knowing what I needed to talk about, but just knowing that I needed to do something about my frazzled state. And despite the fact that I had no agenda for our session other than coming out less stressed than when I walked in, the time spent with her was really good. I have realized more about myself in this crazy stressful year than I think ever before, which is good, because it means I'm learning how to navigate my own adulthood... sorta. Anyway one of the suggestions she made is to cut something out, which I'm in the process of attempting: an accompanying gig that would give me back roughly 6 hrs in my week. In her words, "Oh yeah... someone else can DEFINITELY do that. That is not a life or death thing." We also talked about the fact that I struggle with approval and feeling like I have to prove my worth to others... probably something I've struggled with my whole life, in all honesty. She is a wise, wise woman. And that's why I pay her.

I did find out yesterday that after 6 years of killing myself, I will be graduating with honors: Magna Cum Laude, that is if I keep my GPA between now and then. This means that I will get to participate in MU's special honors graduation ceremony on the quad. I'm also allowed to invite a faculty member, who is supposed to be decked out in their academic regalia to accompany me. There's absolutely no question in my mind of who I want to come with me: Dr. Budds. He has pushed and stretched me to my limits academically and has offered nothing but fatherly advice in personal matters as well. And let's be honest, I did not know how to listen to music before my first class with him. My only regret is that I can only invite 1 member. I wish that Dr. Mabary could come as well since she has played just as big of a part in my academic development. I don't know... maybe this issue requires more thought. I'll get back to you on that one...

But for now I have a busy weekend ahead of me: Halley's birthday, Jeff and Sarah moving, and a visit to my aunt who's on hospice. And we won't even think about next week... it's worse than the monster under the bed.