Spring Breakin'

Spring Break is finally in progress.. as always, it pretty much coincides with my birthday.. I've now officially completed 22 years in this course of life.. things seem to be flying by a wee bit too quickly for me. As for celebrations, it was sweet and simple this year, expectedly so with the crazy exam schedule just before spring break. As soon as we got done with all that, the first few days of a long-awaited break quickly turned into a rapid crash-course in FUN 101. We finally held a party at my place for the first time - so much fun, so much so we're repeating it this coming Friday! I also made my first trip to an outlet mall in the Chicago suburbs, and got myself a neat pair of shoes (doubt I'll have the heart to wear them anytime soon, though.. lol)

So yea.. I spent both my 2 previous spring breaks within the limited confines of the IIT campus.. This time a few guys and myself decided to pay our friend, Ison a visit at Springfield.... the capitol of the great state of Illinois (no, it's not Chicago, just in case you were wondering). Well I don't want to elaborate too much on the trip here really - firstly because I don't have the trip photos with me yet, and secondly the trip's not exactly over yet because I'm still in Springfield!

Springfield is all about Lincoln.. from his home, to extensive museums that display well-preserved artifacts related to the great man, to his final burial ground. Personally, I am grateful for the chance to practically walk through and visualize Lincoln's ascent to fame, though I barely learned anything new thanks to a couple of courses in American History.

The small-town experience (ah yes.. despite it being the capitol) has proved quite a revelation, although my visits to my uncle's place in Iowa City probably ranks higher in that regard. Our dining experiences were quite interesting as well, and once again I'll save it for the post with the photos. Then there's the nightly poker games, which goes on way past midnight.. lol. It's barely a 3 day-trip, but I figure it's sufficient to experience a big portion of what Springfield has to offer and to get to know your fellow trippers a little better.. perhaps I could have done without the latter.

Somehow, I miss the end-year trips back during my high school days.. We certainly knew how to have a hell lotta fun.. there never was a dull moment. These days there are always quite a few moments of detachment. Maybe it's my fault for having 'matured' out of it.. Turning another year older doesn't sound all that great all of a sudden.. *emo*

"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Random quote on a wall around Springfield's New Capitol building.. Something I should keep in mind, at least for the mean time.