Zoom.

I just have to say that life is a little overwhelming.

Being a senior, applying to colleges, stressing about getting my portfolio complete, having a full schedule (2 of which are college level classes), being Editor in Chief on the school newspaper, and VP of the National Art Honor Society while working 25ish hours a week and attempting to maintain somewhat of a social life and keep myself semi sane is a lot to handle.

But honestly, with senior year being half way over, I'd have it no other way. I feel accomplished and know that the last 4 months of high school will be filled with memories.

These last 4 months can go by as slow as they'd like, because no matter how stressed I get, and how much I crave summer, I'm not completely ready to let go of high school.

-AustinCHB

Where's Summer?!

I know it's still a few months away, but summer has been on my mind lately.

I'm super stoked for summer 2011. I'll be turning 18, and everyone will be out of school and everyone can just hang out and have fun and do insane things like the summers in the past.

I'm sure it will be different that other summers, but I know it's gonna be insane.

Despite wanting summer to already be here, I'm also a little cautious. This summer, I will have graduated, and will be a legal adult, and on top of that, at the end of the summer, I won't be getting ready to go back to Bird. I'll be moving to college.

Wow time changes things but I'm still stoked for summer.

Spring Break

I know Spring Break is still over 3 months away, but I'm thinking about going on another NYC trip on Spring Break.

As long as I get accepted to SVA that is. I'll most likely know by then and I won't wanna go if I get rejected. But it would be nice to visit my cousin again and be able to be in the city without having a heat stroke or having to buy boots and wear 12 layers of clothing.

Either way, I'm debating. But I also wanna save up for a Macbook and I don't think I can save up for both at the same time. Well we will see.

I'm working 30 hours this week, and it's a full school week. And I'm trying to finish up my last couple college apps and have a list of things I need to get done. And I still have to convince my principal to let me switch out of AP Government before I become a 2nd year senior.

Man I really need it to be Spring Break.

-AustinCHB

Transformation

Looking back, it seems pretty insane how much I've transformed as an individual.

I've gone through so many phases, friends, and styles throughout my lifetime, and I feel much content now.

As a freshman, "underground" music and going to shows was all I cared about. Throughout high school up until these past few months, I went to shows every chance I got. Not that I don't plan on ever going to shows, I will go to a show if there's a band on the line up that I really wanna see. However, I used to go to shows as much as I possibly could, even if the bands weren't ones that I was really into.

I always wore Vans, band tees, and the most "hardcore" wanna be band dude clothes that I could possibly get my hands on. It's funny because I've thrown almost all my band tees away and I only wear the ones I kept as undershirts now. My style has transformed so much over high school.

I begged my mom to let me get gauges for about two years and I finally got them. My lobes are currently stretched at 3/4 of an inch and a year ago, I was planning on going as big as possible. But right now, I would go get them chopped off if it wasn't so painful and expensive to do so. Not that I am anti gauges, I'm just not into having them anymore. I feel as if they don't fit who I am. But I'm not miserable with them.

Even my outlook on girls has changed. I used to say I would only date a girl that liked the same music as me and had gauges/piercings. Despite me being single now, I would never be shallow enough to only date girls who fit a specific stereotype.

I tried to so hard to fit in with a specific group of people, who I thought were cool because of their music taste and style. However, my groups of friends are as diverse as possible, and I'm friends with anyone.

I guess the whole point is that all of us look up to certain people or things, mine being bands that I was addicted to, and wanna be just like them. I went through all those phases. But now, with only a semester of high school left, I've finally started to discover who I am.

-AustinCHB

Hello. Goodbye.

All I have to say about 2010 is that it has been the best year of my life, and I am truly blessed with amazing friends and family that have dealt with me day in and day out. I love all of you guys unconditionally.

Most of all, I am beyond thankful for the amazing God that is so good to me despite me being horrible at times.

2010 is filled with so many memories, new friends, old friends, trips, and firsts that I can't even begin to write them down, but all of it has been absolutely amazing.

I can't think of any way better to bring in 2011 than with my cousin and all her friends here in NYC. I am so stoked for 2011 and all the major changes in store.

Thanks for everything all of you guys have done, and you know how much you mean to me.

Deuces 2010.

-AustinCHB

Living the city life.

I love being in NYC! So stoked to finally be back here.

Yesterday my cousin and I went to Brooklyn Bagles and I got the best cinnamon raisin bagel with strawberry creme cheese. Then we went to Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rockefeller Center, Saks Fifth Avenue (I got new Sperrys), Magnolia Bakery (had the best cupcake in the world), Central Park (it’s even more amazing in the snow, and I finally got to see the Alice in Wonderland statue), had dinner in an authentic Italian restaurant, and some other things that I can’t think of.

Today we’re going downtown so I can look at SVA and NYU, and we’re going to go to Union Square, SoHo, St Marks Place, and all those places down there. I think we’re gonna go to Chinatown for dinner and go to the New Museum afterwards.

Tomorrow we're going to the Modern Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, Central Park zoo and whatever else we plan.

I know Friday we are going to Grand Central Station before I leave around 2 to come back to RVA.

I love the city. Being here more and more makes me wanna live here. Fall 2011, let's hope so.

-AustinCHB

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

Christmas break is gonna zoom by too fast (even with the 2 additional snow days).
Monday and Tuesday - work
Wensday- Hair Cut
Thursday-Aunt and cousins are coming over for dinner and to exchange gifts
Friday- CHRISTMAS EVE! Work then going to my aunt's for dinner and to exchange gifts with more family.
Saturday- CHRISTMAS! Gifts then dinner with the family.
Sunday- Work and getting packed for my trip.
Monday- LEAVE FOR NYC.
Tuesday-Friday- NYC! (TOO STOKED!)
Friday- NEW YEARS EVE! Get home at night, unpack and PARTY (I have no idea what I'm doing yet)
Saturday- NEW YEARS DAY! WADDUP 2011!? Work.
Sunday- Work and get ready for the last half of senior year.

On top of all that, I have to write a 200 point paper for AP Lit, get as many decent sketches complete for my portfolio, and hang out with my friends as much as possible.

I love my life, but time is just passing way too fast these days.

-AustinCHB