Last call...

This blog might be a little sappy and some of you might just breeze right over it, but I am feeling in that kind of mood right now I suppose. I am not all that tired and the more I think about this coming Sunday, the more I think back on the last four years. Four damn years, come and gone like the blink of an eye. And that is honestly what it felt like. I was talking to my mom the other day and she was saying that she can remember when I first left for school, that it was going to be a long four years. And suddenly, here I sit, done with all of my college classes, nothing left to do except walk across that stage and be announced as a college fucking graduate. Holy wow...

I remember coming into this school pretty much scared shitless. I have always been a fairly confident and very optimistic person. I never even decided that I was going to come here to Point until like...November of my senior year. I was quite convinced I wouldn't be able to afford it and all that shit...and then suddenly I thought, fuck it. They make affordable student loans for a reason and this really isn't an experience that I wanted to pass up (not knowing at ALL what may lie ahead) I got accepted and had a blast of a summer, anticipating the unknown. I got the letter about my randomly assigned roommate in the dorms, some kid named Dan Podell. Seemed cool enough, got a chance to talk to him once or twice before we got here. Met him on move-in day and we really did pretty much click. Had similar yet enough differing personalities that we were great roommates. I think we were both as scared as each other about everything so that helped. I fully believe that had I not met Danno, I wouldn't know 75% of the people I know now and am really good friends with a great majority of them. Then Probst, who I knew from high school (as an acquaintance, he didn't like me because I was friends with Jackie, haha), introduced me to his roomie, Chad. Not sure what it was about Chad, but we clicked the most out of anyone I ever met in college. And obviously, it shows, considering he was the best man in my wedding. He is one of the most genuinely nice guys I have ever met and he is just awesome. Then there are guys like Slip and Svet...who I can honestly thank for my drinking "abilities" (mainly knowing when to say enough is enough, haha)...guys like Joe, who keep me entertained with his girl-chasing ways and his deep conversations that are always so amazing. Joe's roommate sophomore year, James, introduced me to an even more amazing group of people - the Nuns. So many stories from them and so many awesome times, not even sure where to start (so I won't, haha) Then there was Mike (and his always super awesome psuedo-roomie fiance, Sarah, hehe), my roommate sophomore year. A guy that in the beginning I never thought I would get to know so well, but he turned out to be one of my best friends as well (and I am in his wedding this summer! He was supposed to be in mine, stupid Syracuse :-P)

Shower adventures...Steiner Hall...breakfasts at Debot (when we actually got our asses out of bed early enough for it)...intensive quiet hours during Finals week and waiting for that one damn hour when we could be loud as hell, and we certainly were...late night walks through Schmeeklee...tossing the disc around in the circle and just bullshitting for hours...ULTIMATE FRISBEE!!!...Pizza Tuesdays...drunken Taco Bell and avoiding the soda nazi...stumbles home from random apartments (namely Slip and Svets) and parties, yet somehow always making it...chilling out in the Corner Office...giving up alcohol for Lent with Chad just because people thought we couldn't - then succeeding and getting quite blitzed on Easter Sunday...the Portage Party House and the countless good times...Bowling night followed by 35 cent taps at the Cabin...the Outfit...finally finding out that Thursday nights were really the party night...music videos....Singstar...Reel Big Fish jam sessions...Flip Cup and Beer Pong (in the Stadium, of course)...friends being there for me when I needed them...being there for friends when they needed me......finding time during all of this to make it to class (and do well enough to pass!)...and oh so much more...

And through all of this, probably the only thing that ever stayed static (once my second semester rolled around): Kirsten Ann. We started dating during my first Christmas Break here (I was still at home at the time, obviously) Despite some hard times, we worked them together, just like everything we did - and got married last summer. And now we have a house...and a baby on the way. Wow...to think of the amount of love I have for her, it almost hurts...

For many good reasons, I will never EVER possibly be able to forget the last 4 years of my life. My time here in Stevens Point has made me grow into someone pretty amazing and there are just so many people that I really hope I stay in touch with...I made some pretty amazing friends and had some ridiculously incredible times...and if you are reading this, you are probably one of those people. So thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Words can honestly not describe how awesome this time was. And although it is sad to be ending such a crazy awesome good time, all good parties do eventually have to come to an end. And now a new chapter starts for me. One that I am more than ready for. I will do my part to keep in touch with you, do your part to keep in touch with me ;)