What a Wonderful Time

I am procrastinating.

Yeah yeah I know you all think I should be doing work, BUT IT IS BEAUTIFUL OUTSIDE.

We played games on the Quad (and learned that Greg and I are way to competitive to be good at croquet, cornhole, or that other game that we turned into Try-to-kill-the-other-person). We got free cupcakes (BEST) and capri sun (BEST-ER) and now I am in WAY TOO GOOD OF A MOOD TO DO HOMEWORK. Maybe I'll clean my room later to further my procrastination.

I'm working on packing up my room (slowly but surely) and  I talked to  my wonderful Anna Bananna today!! How I miss her. And my Tina (who gets here in 12 days!!) and darling Margaret and of course William.

But as excited as I am to go home, I am sad that my time here is coming to an end. I've grown pretty attached to the people here (yes, you, Lina) and it's going to be weird not knowing when I'll see them next. I hope that we'll stay in touch, even if we only write letters, and I can't wait to hear about your further adventures in DC!!

I'm also really excited about next year. I'm officially transferring to SMU in the fall to major in Medieval Studies. Don't ask what I plan to do with a degree in that, because I don't know. I'll probably be famous in a completely unrelated field. It happens.

I am sooo excited for Summer!! I'm excited for the heat and for the food (and maybe for ethe loss of the ten pounds that I've gained since I quit eating my mother's food...oh well.) and for all the marvelous adventures to be had!!!

YAYAYAA. this is the end of my procrastination post. Now I shall go procrastinate some other way.

Cupcakes in a Jar

Proof that the people who love you will go to any lengths to be as close to you as possible on your birthday.

I love you all, and thank you.

I was born on a Tuesday

Tomorrow is my birthday.

No no, don't everyone just up and sing. Please.

I was just sitting here and realized that this is my last day of 18.

I always  though 17 was the perfect age. Old enough to do pretty much whatever you wanted, but not so old that you have to be responsible or even remotely grown up.

It's now been a year since my last day of 17.

My last day of 17 was spent on a but to Corpus Christi. I was going on an orchestra trip. I was going to spend my birthday laying on the beach and enjoying myself. And I did. And it was fun. And when I got back I was an adult. Or something.

I remember sitting at the DMV  a few days before we left. Waiting to get my "grown up license." I would be an unrestricted driver. Watch out world.

April 11 was the day that I celebrated my birthday at home, since I would be leaving  very early the next morning. Crystina made me Dr Pepper cupcakes (that were fantastic). Will gave me a journal that I had wanted (and still carry around with me everywhere) and I spent that Wednesday afternoon rushing around making sure that I was passing all my classes (ahem. German.)

I remember one year (I was in elementary school but that's as exact as it gets) that I came home and walked in on my dad finishing a cake. When my dad makes cake he makes buttercream icing, and the icing is so rich that you can only have one piece of cake, but I always eat until I'm sick anyway.

On my 17th birthday I got two cakes and a prom. Emily Pound made me a cake that she brought to class, and that we ate during lunch. It was red velvet. We didn't have forks. Crystina and Anna also made me a cake. In the shape of a guitar. My birthday present that year was prom. I couldn't afford to go, and it was important to my friends that I be there, so they all pitched in and paid for everything. All I had to do was their hair. My friends are wonderful people.

My 16th birthday was on a Monday. I know that because I had been in New York the weekend before. We got in late Sunday night, and instead of skipping school Monday (like I normally would have) I went so that I could see all my friends on my birthday. Maggie bought me a shirt in New York because she told me I could pick anything (within reason) and she would get it for me for my birthday. I still have that shirt. I probably won't ever get rid of it. (I also have a glow in the dark jelly fish from her that we found in Corpus Christi.) That year my parents told me that I wasn't going to get much for my birthday because they had paid for my New York trip. They lied. They bought me an iHome, and it is sitting here in my dorm playing me music as I write this.

Tomorrow my last year of being a teenager begins. It's a weird feeling. It'll take a few days to be able to tell people how old I am, like it usually does. But otherwise, nothing will really change. I always feel like I should feel different when I get older, but I never do. And yet, as I look back, over all the years that I can remember, everything has changed. My life is so different now. I'm living in Washington DC. Planning my move back to Texas. I'm in college now. I get to make my own decisions, and my parents don't know where I am anymore. And that's how it's supposed to be. Really, though everything feels the same, just like it has on every other birthday (or pre-birthday) so much is different now.

Tomorrow, I will be celebrating my birthday with new friends. I'll get a few phone calls. Open a few packages (hidden in Kellie's room until midnight) and eat a wonderful cake. I'll get to use the "it's my birthday" excuse for a full 24 hours (and I intend to) and then it will be over. The sad part about birthdays is that they're only a day long, though it's nice that they come every year.

But the best part about birthdays is not the day, but all the days in between.

THE POSTAL SERVICE HAS FAILED ME.

So I got FIVE LETTERS yesterday. Not because five people decided to send me letters on the same day, but because THE MAIL SUCKS. One was postmarked September 26th. One was from October 2nd. One wasn't postmarked at all (not sure how that happened). SO MUCH DISAPPOINTMENT. I have probably given the post office more money in the last two months than most people my age have in their entire life, and you have FAILED ME. Anyway, Jena, Miranda, Maggie, Anna, William, your letters are on the way. Sorry for the lateness. Blame the mailman.

Faithfully

For like two years that song was my song. It was one of a handful of things that Daniel could play on the piano at the time and since we were both always the first to youth group we would take over the piano in the sanctuary. He was always there before me, so I'd wander in and hear him playing and go join him. And I would sing. Because I love to sing. I really love to sing. This went on for about six months, and then we slowly incorporated a couple other songs, but it was really just that one.We even performed it. And some of you know how difficult it is to get me to perform anything, but some of you also know that Daniel can talk me into doing anything. I'll do just about anything as long as he does it with me. Exploring creepy churches, riding roller coasters, and performing. But we did, in front of 300 people. All by ourselves. And we were fantastic.

My mom and I also have a song. I think the only person who has ever experienced it, besides my father, is Tina, but turn on Lovin' Touchin' Sqeezin', and you'll get an earful of Padia women belting it out. My mom and I sing like that often, actually. When it's just me and her in the car, it's like we don't have to worry if we can hit the notes or not, or if we'll deafen the other person. When I'm singing with my mom, I'm a braver singer. I'll sing things that I usually wouldn't try, just because I know that she'll go for it as well. Stairway to Heaven, Stay, and any of numerous Journey and Bon Jovi songs.

For my dad it's country. Specifically George Strait. That was what my dad always listened to on long trips, and to this day I see it as being travelling music. I remember sitting in the truck, coming back from Austin when I was little, and bundling up to   go to my grandparents house for Christmas. I can't tell you which grandparents, but I can tell you we were listening to country.

Crystina and I have songs, too. Lots of them, actually. Probably more like entire musical genres. My iPod has been the soundtrack of our high school experience. I listen to Fences every time it comes on, just because it was her favorite song. And I now have to listen to Baby Got Back every time it comes on anywhere. Whenever I hear Dead or Alive, I think of the summer after junior year, spent adventuring with Anna.

Different songs bring back different memories, and as I sit listening to my iPod they all come back. Desperado is sitting with Maggie, desperately trying to make sense of our music theory homework. Don't Stop Believing is sitting in the van, all of us singing very loudly, and very off key. Allstar is every church camp that I ever went to. Hey Soul Sister is walking down the streets of Atlanta with Matt and Alix.

Music brings us together, and for a moment, while the song is playing, our souls are free to roam. To connect to each other, to speak to each other, and to leave a bit of each other with us. When Drops of Jupiter plays, I not only feel my roommate and suitemate, singing along with me, but I remember a day in Anna's car, on the way to a football game, when Will and Tina quit bickering so they could sing along, too. In that moment, it's not just me and Alina and Kellie. It's all seven of us, and probably more.

At night sometimes, George comes in and plays my guitar. Almost immediately, Steven, Roman, Kellie, and Josh appear, drawn in by the community that is music. In those moments, even though we are all still mostly strangers, we are like old friends. We don't have to like the song or the artist to feel the pull of the music, and our souls dance, though we sit scattered about the room. In those moments, not only are the new friendships celebrated, but the old ones come to life. Our room never feels crowded then, though there are many more people than usual. It feels whole. In those moments, we become the family that we left behind, the friends that we long for. We aren't from Texas, North Carolina, Vermont, New York, and Bolivia. We are all here, in this place. And that's all that matters.

Today was a good day.

 Why? Because this came in the mail. 

 Much joy and happiness ensued. 

Especially after this came out. 

That is a jewelry holder. With a beach theme. Made with much love (and a bit of procrastination and possibly spit) by my bestest best friend.  

BUT WAIT. THERE'S MORE.

Like, alot more.

This much more. 

9 MINI PACKAGES!! 

1. Stickers

2. Plates

3. Winnie the Pooh coloring book

4. CRAYONS

5. Hotwheels car (from Tina)

6. Hotwheels car (from William)

7. Blue cross

8. Green cross

9. Nail cross

These are my crosses 

and my knee.

And then, after much decorating and adventuring with Kellie's cricut, my room looks like this!

 

This makes me incredibly happy. Like really. I have the best friends in the world. 

I love you all so very much!!!

-Skylar

USELESS

My best friends are useless. Really not so much, I love them lots and lots. But still. Tina skyping me from Will's room on his computer as he plays video games. And she and I were kinda just looking at each other as we sent each other pinterest links back and forth. Because that's productive. Love y'all so much. But really. Sometime's you're ridiculous. But Alina likes you so I guess it's okay.

Melbs, your letter is in the mail as of this afternoon (so not yet but I'm gonna put it in the mailbox).

I just realized that I have no pictures of my youth group on my wall, so I'm gonna have to go get some.

I haven't had coffee yet, so excuse the fact that this makes no sense at all.

Jena, this is for you.

Saturday: Rain Adventures.

Night of loitering, playing in puddles, wandering, yelling at Jena and Jackson not to die. Finding heat vents. Awkwardly chilling behind buildings. And goodbyes that once again, weren't actually goodbyes.

Love y'all! (That took me three tries to get the ' in the right place...)

Thursday's Post: Pancakes, Blueberries, and Hanging Out on the Corner

So Jena and I made pancakes. At first, she didn't know how, all she knew was that she wanted pancakes and she wanted them to have blueberries. This is my successful stack of pancakes. 

Then Jena realized that it was easy. So she gave it a try. She made a couple good ones to add to the pile, and then she got bored. So what does she do? She makes a pancake with a hole in it. Because that's logical. 

Then she realizes that she can make letters. This is an "S". For Skylar. Clearly. As she's making it, she realizes that there are places that don't have very much batter and lack "structural integrity". So she adds more batter to these places, and the S turns out like this. 

Of course, all the places that she added batter tore as she was trying to flip the pancake. Lesson: If you ever find out that a building's architect is Jena Chakour, don't go in it. In fact, don't go anywhere near it. 

And then I got to deal with these two.

You're probably wondering why the picture is blurry. Well, it's partly because my phone hates me, and partly because the DON'T SIT STILL. This was a rare peaceful moment between them. So Melbs and I just sat there and took pictures. It was rather entertaining. Here are a few snapshots into my life with Will and Tina as my best friends:

The best part? Throughout their fights, they pause and have actual conversations. I don't understand it. It's just the way it is. OH! And this is in the middle of Beth Marie's. So They're beating the crap out of each other in public. 

Why do I love them? Dude I have no idea. But It was a good night. We wandered around, were questioned about our life choices, honked at a few times, and thoroughly creeped on by some guy in a Nissan listening to bad music. He left when Tina and Will yelled at him. 

Friends are really all you need in life. Besides food and water. And these two (and you too, Melbs) are the best. As long as I can keep them from doing permanent damage to each other. They're probably the only people who actually understand what's going on in my head, and they put up with all of my crazy (which is a lot. You have no idea.). They know how to cheer me up, and I'm going to miss them the most when I leave. 

Love you all!

MMMMMMMMMMNNNNNNNNNNHMMNHHMMNNH

That is numb-speak for "I can't feel my mouth and half of it isn't moving, what do I do??"

So. I got my wisdom teeth out yesterday. Really wasn't bad at all. I mean, my mouth kinda hurts, but it isn't as bad as braces so we'll say it's not that bad. 

The weirdest thing was the mouth paralysis. Apparently, they did a really good job with the Novocaine before I woke up, and they actually hit the nerve on one side of my mouth (which is what they're aiming for). So one side was completely numb, and they other side was completely....paralyzed. It was weird. Of course, as soon as my mom got off the phone with the dentist to make sure that this was just the Novocaine and nothing to be worried about, I could twitch the corner of my mouth. So I did that for like twenty minutes. 

I've eaten a ton of ice cream (thanks to my fabulous Mama and Anna/Jena/Miranda), had lots of mashed potatoes (thank you Daddy), named a gnome (thank you William), and slept on the couch with a teddy bear (thank you Lou). 

Probably the worst part is that my usual diet of meat, coffee, and peanut butter is now Jello, ice cream, and mashed potatoes. 

But really, that isn't that bad. 

Oh, except for the part where I still can't feel half my lip. That's a little strange. 

What I haven't posted about

So I haven't posted in a week. Why? Because I've been busy!!! So here is your update on my life:

Friday: Saw Brave. It was super adorable. Also went to Chickfila. It was super delicious. William, I appreciate your life.

Saturday: Registered for classes!!! I got all the classes I wanted and all the times I wanted and it makes my life super happy. I also got my hair done, and there is nothing better than someone else washing your hair for you. Then I went fishing with my Daddy, which I enjoyed very much.

Sunday: Went to church and such. Got to see Daniel's lovely sign, though I am upset that I won't be here for his Eagle ceremony. Some things just don't work out, no matter how hard you try. Oh! And I went to Frilly's and had delicious fried sea food. Makes my life awesome.

Monday: I went to a funeral for a friend's grandmother.

Tuesday: I went to the dentist. Mark your calendars for August 10th, that's when the wisdom teeth come out.

Wednesday: I successfully put the interior door panel back on!! It was a shining moment in my life. I even understand what's broken on the door!

Thursday: I did nothing. Absolutely nothing. Except go to VBS and play with the kids. But that was it. It was awesome.

Friday!!! Today I dyed my hair pink. Like PINK. It's kinda a magenta color. I also got to have lunch with my mom and grandmother, I love those people. And I have a cake to make because it's CRYSTINA RENTERIA'S EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY!!!! YAY YOU MADE IT TO ADULTHOOD!!!

Well there's your update on my life. Next week I go to Synod!! Super excited. Tina, I expect cupcakes when I get back. Love y'all!

"An' I can't stan' 'em!"

Tonight I had the glorious experience of seeing Singin' In the Rain in theaters.

It was amazing.

I've always loved this movie; it's my favorite musical. Something about the look on Gene Kelly's and Donald O'Connor's faces when they're dancing in "Moses Supposes", or the way that Debbie Reynold's   hint of a Texas accent comes out when she sings, or the way that Gene Hagen manages to be beautiful and painfully annoying all at the same time, or Cyd Charisse's ridiculously long legs (thats her in the picture with the hat on her foot) just makes me happy. This movie was a bunch of people who were not only extremely talented, but they loved what they did. Any time that Gene Kelly dances he's smiling, and not that "they told me to smile so I'm smiling but since I'm an actor so it's almost but not quite convincing" smile. It was a "wow I love to dance" smile.

Watching people do things they're good at has always been something I enjoyed, as weird as that sounds. That's probably why I've surrounded myself with talented people. Whether it's my dad painting, any of my friends acting, Jackson playing guitar, Crystina getting a whole group of people organized, Daniel playing drums, Will building things (whether or not Tina and I approve), Anna doodling, (I would say Ariel writing, but I haven't ever actually witnessed it), or Maggie crafting things you wouldn't expect, I find it fascinating. 

That's why I love this movie. It's like they found a bunch of people who were really talented, and built a movie around them. I mean, they brought Cyd Charisse in just so she could dance in one scene. She doesn't even have a line or a name, but everyone knew that she and Gene Kelly would dance beautifully together. And they did. 

WHY?!

Dear Will and Tina,
    As much as your shenanigans cause me physical pain and loss of IQ points, I love y'all so much and I will miss you the most.

Dear Melbs,
     Your dog is adorable, and your mom's cookies were delicious.

Dear Jena,
     You fail at trying to hide from me, but I love you lots. Your vagabonding self better get up to DC so we can continue our coffee dates.

Dear Maggie,
     Next time, I don't want to find out that you're out of town from Jena. Please keep me posted! I do love you lots and enjoy being part of your life.

Dear Ariel,
     I appreciate your updates on your travels and can't wait to hear all about it when you are back in my hemisphere. I have stories for you, too. (But they won't be as cool so don't get excited)

Dear Anna,
     You are the friend that causes me the least stress. For that I am grateful.

To all of you:

I love you all so much and I don't know what I would do without you in my life. You're the reason that I get up in the afternoon.

P.S. Rock of Ages was amazing.