After Steff, things could only get better. At least I told myself. I condemned my action of running to the bathroom to my mental. I would not run when the next roomie comes. I will firmly walk to the front of the apartment and god forbid if she is eating my damn K, I will rip it out of her grubby hands! Ok, so as you can see I have a problem with confrontation and a color imagination that’s always in hindsight mode.

Sounds of a door know rattling greet my ears and I prepare myself for another Steff. The door opens and a really big dude with boxes in tow traipsing in. "Hello" I say, how can I help you. He goes “Nope just helping Casey with her stuff”. Before I could even respond in walks another dude with more stuff. This stuff was special. It was tattooed with Louis Vutton symbols all over it. It was a luggage set. This girl,  who ever she was had to be as glitzy as they come. It would be nice to see her I thought. In she comes with a red strapless top and some super tight skinny jeans. Her eyes are protected by these really big black sunglasses that wraps around her face like she was out of a futuristic movie. She had on these gold shoes that were sparkly like Dorothy’s ruby slippers out of the wizard of OZ. The shoes were memorizing. I found myself staring at them with much intensity. “Hello, I’m Casey” she said in a bubbly voice. Excuse me for staring, I apologized to her. But I’ve never seen such sparkly shoes before. She smiled, knowing that I was checking out her shoes.... " these are my fav!"  They were mMy very first pair of Christian Louboutin’s. I pretended to have a clue? So where are you from I asked her. I am from the OC. “OC” I repeated with a touch of confusion. “Orange County” she said in amaze. “Where have you been?” I told her that I was not familiar with the county’s in California only the major citys. So what brings you to Tennessee, I ask with much intent. Someone who is tall, dark and very handsome she sings. Are you a cheer leader I ask? Bingo, you got it. You totally look like one I tell her. Most girls in the OC looks like cheerleaders. So who is this tall dark and handsome guy? His name is Chet and he is the love of my life. He should have went to USC though. For some reason he decided to come to this school. He said that they have a really intense football program. “That’s cool” I say, but why are you here? You did not get my answer the first time I see she says. I am here because of a guy named Chet, he is the love of my… “Ok I get it” quickly interrupting her. You are here because of your boyfriend. Why are you “here” though? Why are you in a 4 person apartment off campus. Shouldn’t you be at some swanky condo or penthouse? Sure she said, but in all honesty my parents aren’t all that thrilled that I have decided to follow my heart instead of following the family tradition. What’s the family tradition? Ivy League she gasped. My parents don’t understand that I am so not Ivy League material. I mean for example, you have to study a lot; not me. You have to study alot—oh I already said that....  “I get your point” I responded rather dryly. I was so damn pissed! The nerve of her. I am at this damn college because I cant afford Yale, or shall I say my parents cant. She’s here cause she does not want to study hard & she followed a guy???? What the hell!!!! I would so die to be in her shoes. Ok not those Christian whatevers; I would totally bust my ass. This girl is full of action and a nerd like me can stand a little shot of it. Two down one to go

Hampton I Am Here!

Wow, I have just arrived in Hampton Tennessee. This is a whole new world for me. It's very laid back and it seems kind of slow. This is the polar opposite of my urban upbringing. There seems to be a shortage of available men and this town is filled with a huge appetite for football. Football is the most important thing at this school and I would have to say cheerleading is next. I am so not the cheerleader type. I am a geek. Ok, I am a cool geek. I have the body of a cheerleader and the energy of a slug. I have to drink some redbull; because of the few potentials that I have noticed 4 of them had letterman jackets. One part of me wanted to puke at the thought of being with a letterman, and the other part was ready to chant: "Give me an H" and then do a quick summer sault soon after. I love the fact that this school is full of diversity too! Me being an equal opportunity dater and all, I am really looking forward to taking advantage of all possibilities :-) But I have to stay focused and save all my calories on my "roommates".

I was the first "roomie" is our pad. It's a step over a dorm. I live in an apartment off-campus but it's a part of the schools housing system. I will share this pad with three other girls and they will be coming soon. I am happy that I am the first one here, however I am very apprehensive and find that I have too much time imagining 3 huge monsters storming in here while I am sleep and attacking me!

Next day.....

Ok so I wake up and eat my normal breakfast. Special K w/ a banana in my special purple bowl. I absolutely cannot function in the morning without my dose of the "K". You know how some people can't function w/o coffee, for me its special K. I clean out my favorite bowl and go to my room to chill. I am sitting in my room enjoying my last day of watching talk shows and soap operas. Today is Friday and school starts this Monday. Am I nervous? A little, but I am more nervous about these roomies! Before I can even settle my nerves I hear something; wait a minute it's the door! What do I do? Do I run and greet the first roomie? Do I run into the bathroom? Or do I simply close my bedroom door? I don't have time to think this out. What would you do? Of course you would, but you’re not Shi Shi.

I am no greeter. I am not rude either, so I grab my towel and dart to the bathroom. I quickly turn on the shower, strip and jump in. Damit the water is cold!! I deserve this steam of ice water for being rude. Finally beads of hot water join the ice water and I begin to enter into a world of calmness. I shampoo my hair and relax. I exfoliate completely, brush my hair and wrap my body with my towel. I breathe really deep and open the door. I head toward the noise that I am hearing coming out of the kitchen to greet the first roomie and to my surprise.........

There stood a healthy woman with purple hair and all black on. Before I could even calm my facial muscles as to hide my obvious shock of her appearance my eyes are socked with the most offensive sight ever!!!! This chick was indulging in the "K". My "K"!! Then to add insult to injury she was digging her spoon; correction "my spoon" into my PURPLE bowl!!!!!!!! This is treason, and my mind is thinking off with her head!!!!! I don't know what to say? My eyes were bulging.

Before I could say anything, my roomie did the honors. "Hi my name is Steff, I am your new roomie" she says with Special K residue resting in the corners of her mouth. All I am thinking is do you eat people's shit without asking on the planet you come from. But I have to be reserve. I will be living with her for 2 semesters, not to mention she could snap me as easy as my grandma snaps green beans preparing for Sunday dinner.

I tell her nice to meet you in a casual way. She begins to tell me about where she is from, what she hopes will happen and how excited she is about being a student at HU. I am not absorbing any of it. I am simply thinking how can I get my bowl and spoon away from the human garbage disposal without getting my ass kicked! I decide to tell her a little about myself and then I kindly tell her that I am very systematic and really cannot deal with eating off plates that are not mine as well as bowls, forks and spoons. She was very responsive to my disclousure and quickly apologized then discarded the remaining "K" and began to wash my bowl and spoon. I told her not to worry about it that I am working on my problem. I felt bad in a way. Why couldn't I just say "Don't eat my shit, you idiot"? But it got the mission accomplished. Steff asked me to join her with, as she was excited and wanted to tour the campus. I told her no thanks that I needed to do some unpacking and maybe I would catch up with her later. The truth is I didn't like her! And she better damn well keep her grubby hands of the "K"; my "K"!!!

On My Way to Get Away

OMG! I am finnally out of high school. I can be me! I can run, walk, jump, or even better stay still. Yes, I am going to college. But that's only because I want to go. I am on my way to a new world. I am looking for my shadow. Not the one that has been following me around without any discretion when I turn left instead of right.

I am going to be a big movie producer. Many people laugh when I tell them this. I can understand. You don't hear about any big women producers. But that's simply because I have not made it there yet. They are waiting. They are waiting for Shi Shi and I want to tell them so loudly "I am on my way", but first I have to find my way via the road of education.

I have my family to thank for all of the wonderful going away gifts. I want to especially thank my big brother Todd for the pepper spray with the customized leather holder bearing my engraved initials. Look out HU, here comes Shi Shi with her big dreams and her pepper spray. I know what your thinking. Why HU? Why not some ritzy film school in New York or LA?

Here's the skinny: I am not unrealistic in my pursuit of my dream. My parents simply can't afford it. HU has a wonderful broadcasting curriculum. I can learn lots without sending my parents to the poor house before I can even get close to producing a degree. This was the best decision for all parties. I wanted to live off campus in a private apartment, but it was just to costly. I did find a few private apartments that were reasonable, but I would be struggling to buy things like food and clothes. So I decided to move into "shared housing" I just hope my choice to cut costs does not end up being a catastrophe!