Reunion Recap.

This past weekend was wonderful, and for so many different reasons. The main one was getting to reconnect with my friends Tanya and Michelle from college. I hadn't seen them in ages - since 1997 when we saw each other at the now defunct IAJE in Chicago. It's funny that in some ways, everything has changed, yet when it came to our friendships, nothing had changed. Tanya and I literally picked up where we left off, by hopping in our rental car at the airport and heading straight to the Mall of America to get our shop on (man do I love me some Nordstroms). We even had dinner in the Mall at a new restaurant called Crave. We got to the hotel around 11pm to check in and found Michelle, and really, it was like no time had passed.I had my own room, which allowed me to get some much needed down time as well. I found the events fun, but a bit overwhelming at times so I skipped a few of the sessions to sleep in, nap, and did I mention catch some zzzzz's? Getting that many singers in one place is kind of nuts. Add to that the fact that they are all jazz singers, and well, it was truly bananas. I don't listen to much vocal jazz these days (and haven't in over 10 years). Getting reintroduced to it reminded me that the voice really is the most incredible instrument, but also that I have a limited attention span for group singing. I have a theory that most of the time, it is more fun to sing vocal jazz in a group than listen to others perform vocal jazz in a group. For the most part, my theory stands up, at least for me.
Besides seeing Tanya and Michelle, the other person I really wanted to see was my professor Phil Mattson. He has been a huge influence in my life, and I wasn't sure when I'd get the opportunity to say thank you to him for being such an important part of my journey, and never giving up on me (even when I was a stupid kid in her first few years of college). It felt good to see him as an adult, and not only that, an adult who has her act together, who is happy and successful in life.

There were a few people who weren't able to make it to the reunion (the timing of the 4th of July weekend wasn't the greatest - lots of great gigs meant some of my favourite friends from college couldn't be there). Hopefully I'll be able to connect with these folks further down the road. And if not, well, there is always facebook, right?  I think the new friends I made this weekend balance everything out for the friends that weren't there.  One thing I know for sure - Tanya and Michelle - Orlando in 2010 - it's ON ladies!

Making it Weird in Minneapolis.

I promised I would do it. That I'd ask my old college friend Chris (the one who wouldn't accept my Facebook friend request) what was UP with that. Well, here you go - I captured it on video so we can all enjoy this awkward and hilarious moment. Good times, good times.

Minneapolis Here I Come.

We've had a hectic couple of days here chez Fickle Feline. Yesterday was a "holiday", though given Max's behaviour, I'm not sure who exactly enjoyed the mid-week day "off" (Happy Birthday Canada, btw). I have to remind myself when he exhibits challenging behaviour, that it is challenging mostly because he is usually so good. The only time Max really acts out or backslides into old behaviours, is when he isn't feeling good. But dog damn, does it ever suck when he acts out. Both Scott and I are completely fried, and Cameron also seems to pick up on the stress, which only adds to the tension. I'm just hoping that everyone gets some sleep tonight (cross your fingers for us!).

I am heading out to my college reunion tomorrow afternoon. I think it will be fun - and it will certainly be good for me to get a few days away by myself. I keep joking that I'm not actually going to my reunion at all - I'm just flying to Minneapolis and checking into the closest hotel to the airport - my grand plan being to sleep for three days straight. Now that you mention it, that doesn't sound half bad.

I'm bringing my trusty flip with the intention of shooting video of my friends Tanya and Michelle singing their asses off. You can bet there will be some great video and pictures from this weekend. I'm also thinking that the mantra "What Happens in Minneapolis Stays in Minneapolis" will apply, if only to cover my ass about my plan to visit the Mall of America.

Blast From the Past.

My college reunion is being held this summer on the July 4th long weekend. I have mixed emotions about going. While part of me would love to go, and catch up with everyone from my college days, another part of me has no desire to relive what was one of the toughest periods of my life. Don't get me wrong, I learned a lot while at SWCC and made some great friends. I also suffered from a horrible bout of depression, got my heart broken for the first time, and made a bunch of really bad calls.

This picture was taken in my freshman year, before classes had even started. I was renting the first floor of a dilapidated house with another girl from Canada. Interestingly enough, this girl is on Facebook and she won't friend me. Makes me think I must have been a real treat to live with, or maybe she is just a jerk. Who knows? I really have no hard feelings towards her, but maybe my memory is selective and it may in fact be that I was a rotten roommate. Though I do recall deleting a message when one of her boyfriends (Dave, I think) tried to breakup with her on our answering machine, calling him back and telling him that he needed to man up and do it in person, that I would not allow him to dump her that way. But I digress.

SWCC is the place I credit with making me a musician. While I don't work professionally as a musician, I still consider myself one. Most of the people I went to school with are doing something music wise with their careers. When I reconnect with them, the inevitable question that comes up is "What are you doing for a living?". I dread that question because a) I feel like they judge me when I say I am working in Marketing, and not in the music field and b) what I do from 9-5 is not what defines me as a person, just like how much money I make does not equate my worth as a human being.

I guess what I'm saying is I really don't want to take a trip down memory lane, go backward instead of forward. So why am I even considering going? There are a select group of friends that I would love to reconnect with. I would also like to see my professor Phil Mattson, and thank him in person for the music and life education he gave me and for helping me battle through my depression, never giving up on me. And also, I want to see that roommate of mine and find out while she won't friend me on Facebook. Kidding. I don't really care about that, I mostly just want to stalk her profile to see wtf she's up to. Perhaps I should just try to reconnect with these friends individually. It's tough though, because they are spread out all across the United States - literally from coast to coast. I could get to see them all in one shot, while it will take me years to get the chance to catch up with them one by one.

What would you do? Go? Not go? What's your take on the whole reunion thing? Do tell...I clearly need some advice.