Spring break is over...it has been for almost a week. But it wasn't until now that I finally feel relaxed. Oh, don't get me wrong--I had a great time in Florida. Canoeing down the Swanee river with Caleb, hanging out in Branford, seeing the Passion with Caleb and Kenny...I had a blast fitting 12 people in a car and goofing off before the Gunsmoke Dialogue/Unforsaken show at Vito's Rock and Roll Pizza. They did a great job playing, even if the crowd was slightly down becauase of the whole St. Patrick's Day thing. I got to hang out in St. Augustine at a beach house with fifteen million people (well, the Jones', the Law's, and Mandy and Cameron); Shannon, Nina, Allison and Nina were great fun to see, and I got to lay out on the beach. Nonetheless, most of the trip my mind was focused on two things: a) finding a job and b) how much I was dreading the research paper I had (well, still have) to write. I got all stressed out about a lot of things that were on my mind, and I didn't enjoy it the way it should have been enjoyed.

But now I'm much better. I ran two miles today with Caleb, ate some great homeade hamburgers, got convinced to skip the library and go see "Something's Gotta Give"--which was a phenomenal movie--and now here I am. Lights dimmed, candles flickering, and Louis Armstrong on my record player. I finally feel like I can breathe again. And yes, I still have a seven page paper to write about Jonathan Swift's use of extreme rationality in Gulliver's fourth voyage, but it isn't due until Tuesday. I'll start it tomorrow.

Tonight, I'm going to enjoy the fact that I am happy, relaxed, and so grateful for all that God has given me.

[listening to: Louis Armstrong--"Favorites"]

And now it is time for me to grace you with a Spring Break mid-point update.

Things officially kicked off with the Tooth and Nail tour, which we saw on Thursday night. Cameron, Caleb, my friend Holly, and I drove to Richmond after class. Richmond roads are sneaky, especially this one evil toll road. We had to drive through the toll three times because we got all turned around. Cameron showed that toll though, yes he did; throwing his quarters at it real hard and stuff. We finally made it to Nanci Raygun, which is definitely in my top five venues. It was real small, but colorful, and the bathrooms were indescribably nifty (especially for a bar). Because of Richmond being so confusing, we missed Slow Coming Day and made it in halfway through Emery's set. I wasn't really a fan of them...I honestly don't even remember what they sounded like, they were that inconsequential. I was too busy buying a mewithoutyou shirt (from Aaron, actually, who Holly and I didn't recognize because he got rid of his bear) and trying to talk to the eighty million people that were there. Me and Caleb's friends Jim and Canaan were there, and we haven't seen them in forever. I think that show had more people that I knew than any I'd been to before, and it was lots of fun.

Watashi Wa played, they did a great job. For some reason, I thought their lead singer was fat and bald, but nosir, he was actually pretty cute. They were very laid back and it was fun to hear all their stuff again (my brother has the cd, so I haven't heard it in a while). Mewithoutyou was amazing, I really don't even have to mention that. But they played a lot of new stuff and I wanted them to keep going for another six hours. They didn't, of course, but they did have fun trying to get a rise out of the PETA booth by endorsing Gillette razors even though they were tested on animals (think about that, folks--that means the worst thing would be shaving the animals...and that's just funny!).

We were chilling near the front before Anberlin played, and there were these two old men joking about how "cute" Anberlin's new guitarist was. I asked how they knew him, and turns out it was James' dad, uncle, and two cousins. They were a lot of fun, and we chatted until Anberlin started their set. They did a great job, and I'm really happy about their new stuff. James (the new guitarist) was good, it was fun watching his dad poke the cousins to get them to take pictures. Apparently Luke and Justin didn't like James, because he tried to "steal the show" or something when they saw him, but I don't know what they're talking about. He was real laid back and he fit in with the band really well. Course, they did see one of the first shows, so maybe it took some time for him to get used to everything.

When Anberlin finished, I couldn't feel my ears anymore. We got back to Lynchburg pretty late, and Holly spent the night at my house. Caleb and I left super early the next morning, and made it to Branford in Record time. We got in around 6, just in time to get some dinner.

Ok, I need to go for now, because Cameron and Caleb are almost done practicing. I'll finish up later...wish them luck, Gunsmoke Dialogue is opening for Unforsaken tonight in Valdosta.

Yesterday. Was. Amazing.

Caleb seriously outdid himself with this one. It was our One-Year Anniversary, and it was awesome.

Let me preface with a story--last Tuesday evening, I went to Roanoke with Caleb, Cameron, and Mandy. We ate at TGIFridays, ran around the mall...it was lots of fun. While we were at the mall, I spotted this amazingly cute dress in the window of Ann Taylor Loft. It was cute, it had a retro A-line shape, and I really wanted it. Well, I looked at it--way too expensive for me, even if it weren't for the fact that I'm poor right now. So I smiled at the dress and waved goodbye, cuz it wasn't going to be seen on me anytime soon.

Fast forward to yesterday. After Caleb and I worked out at the gym (my legs are still being whiney), we went back to his house and ate lunch. I took a shower, and when I was all clean and ready-to-go, he gives me this letter. I was informed that I had to carry it with me everywhere that I went, and I couldn't open it until he told me it was okay. Which is mean. Real mean. Especially since I'm an insanely curious person. But alas, I agreed.

We drove to Roanoke (and of course, I had no idea what all he has planned for the day), where we had an early dinner at the Olive Garden (one of my favorite restaurants). And I have to say, it was a really, really good dinner. I got the "Tour of Italy", this dish that had lasagna, Parmesan chicken, and Alfredo noodles. Yum. I also had an entire basket of breadsticks.

Needless to say, we were pretty full, so we went to the mall to chill out a little bit. I officially declared it, "Crystal is going to try on fun things that she can't afford" day, and found some really cool stuff at the Gap (amazingly enough). The Ann Taylor store is right across from it, so Caleb suggested that I go try on the dress (since I hadn't gotten to actually try it on before). I figured, hey, why not, nothing to lose.

So I went to go try it on, and...there was only one dress left. And it was a size 8. Way too big. I was disappointed, but no big deal. Caleb, on the other hand, seemed really bummed.

"You can't see if they have it in the back or anything?" he asked. I shrugged, and asked the saleslady. No, they didn't have it, and no, she didn't know when any would be in.

I couldn't figure out why Caleb was more disappointed than I was, but we left and started walking around.

"Okay," he said. "You can open the letter now."
"Now?" I was expecting to open it somewhere more...not in the mall. But I figured he has a reason, so we found a bench, and I sat down to read it. It was a good letter, containing a "The Top 5 Things I Love About Crystal" list. And at the bottom, it said:
"P.S. This letter entitles you not only to my heart, but to that dress you're wearing!"

Confused, I looked up at him. "Dress?"
"Yeah, you were supposed to have opened it when you had the dress on from Ann Taylor. But they didn't have it...."

All I could do was look at him, because not only was I amazed that he remembered how much I liked the dress, but...it was a really expensive dress!

"...anyways, since they don't have it right now, you can either wait and have them order you one--or you can look around and see if you find another one that you like."

I'm not a very patient person when it comes to knowing that somebody got me something, so...we went dress shopping! And not only did I find a dress, I found one that I liked even better! It's really pretty and really comfortable and it's retro just like the other one. It's very forties--I just need some cat eye sunglasses and some red lipstick and I'll be all set.

So you would think that would be the end, right? But no, on our way home we stop at the grocery store and he makes me stay in the car. He wouldn't let me look at what he got until we got home, when he made me sit in another room with my eyes closed until he came in and brought me--strawberries! My boyfriend bought strawberries for me. And they were really good. And we watched the rest of "The Blues Brothers."

And I love Caleb Jones. He's incredible.

p.s.
The other records I got him (that I didn't mention before) were: "Weird Al Yankovic in 3-D" (with "Eat it" on it); "The Jesus Christ Superstar Soundtrack"; and "Wild Tales" by Graham Nash (which he said is one of the best gifts he's ever gotten--he loves Graham Nash). And I also got him "Jesus Christ Superstar" on DVD, but it's still in the mail.

He's a happy boy. :)

I'm warm. I'm full. I'm happy. And I'm listening to Celebrity's "Lovesick." It was so beautiful out today. I didn't go to class at all (though, granted, I only have one). Instead, I went and took pictures at the cemetery down the street from me, and drove downtown to a few antique/thrift stores. Where I also got lots of pictures. AND found "Platinum Lines" by Blondie (that's the one with "Heart of Glass" on it). I also got two other records, but I'll mention the names of those later because they're for Caleb, and he doesn't get them until Saturday.

I'm going back downtown tomorrow afternoon, when I get my paycheck. And I'm going to buy the Poloroid camera that I found for 5 bucks, the red shag rug that's going for $20, two more records ("Ella Fitzgerald sings Gershwin" and a Cole Porter album), and possibly a desk chair that's $10. I know, that's almost $40 (plus I'm buying a new swimsuit from Target before spring break), but it's about time I spent some money on myself. On more than just gas and groceries. There's also a graphic design book that I'm dying to get from Barnes and Noble, but that can wait.

I'm trying to type out my resume so I can apply for some jobs over spring break. I need to call a few hotels tomorrow and see if they're even hiring. I have to make a general resume, a hotel front desk resume, a graphic design resume, and a retail resume. Bleh. I don't feel like doing four different resumes.

It's so hard to believe that Spring Break is next week, and I'm going to Florida. This is my first real "spring break". I mean, I've never gone anywhere besides Michigan, so it will be nice going somewhere warm. Plus, I'm really excited about going to the beach, seeing Gunsmoke Dialogue play some shows, seeing Caleb's family, and most of all, hanging out with all the Florida people that I rarely get to see!

It's gonna be a lot of fun, folks, LOTS of fun.

[listening to: Celebrity--"Lovesick"]

Wow. I had a really good day today. Nothing significant, just the fact that it's finally getting warm up, that I got an awesome Olivia card in the mail from Allison, that I ate at Quizno's for lunch AND for dinner, that Caleb and I are being really silly and having good times, that I finally got all the university forms turned in that I needed to...that it's spring! Well, okay, almost.

It's amazing how little things like scary spiders in the broom at work, flying beagles, and Denali the astronaut from the not-so-distant future can make all the difference in the world. The good kind of difference.

I'm making pancakes for breakfast tomorrow morning. And I am excited.

[listening to: Peter Gabriel--"So"]