I got my MacBook today! I'm so excited, but I'm scared to start it up. I have this feeling that the second I start it and the set-up starts asking questions, I'll press a button and everything will go black. I'll wait until Tom's around to do anything to it.

So I researched information on the MacBook, trying to find the best deal so as to prevent my parents from paying too much. That and the fact I only asked them to give me $500 to help pay for one and I'd pay the rest. I tell them of my plan to pay only $1,067 without tax for a MacBook that will be perfect for what I'll do with it.

I was going to get the 2.0GHz MacBook and customize it to have a 120GB hard drive. This way, I'll still get the standard amount of memory on a 2.16GHz MacBook for $100 less. 2.0GHz is still pretty fast for a processor and, according to Tom, 2.16GHz is only about 7% faster or some relatively small percentage like that. Plus, the 2.0GHz one has a Combo drive which would allow me to play CDs and DVDs. The 2.16GHz one has a Double-layer SuperDrive which would allow me to not only make CDs, but make DVDs too. And really, when would I ever need that? I tell them that the only thing is that we have to order it online and it'll take a couple days to arrive.

Then my Dad suggested that I just get the $1299 2.16GHz one. I should've been like "Really!? Okay!" right? But no, I actually found myself arguing with them to choose the lower model. I eventually realized the mistake I was making and just went with it. It took my mom and me the longest time to explain to my Dad what a mail-in rebate was and how the student discount was already applied to the laptop. We decide on the MacBook and the free* red iPod nano.

We ask for assistance and Travis comes to help. [[My brother was like, "Yo, that guy's oddly ripped for an Apple Store dude." HA.]] He rang it up and it all came out to be about $1700 without the mail-in rebates. Why? Because there're a bunch of other promotional products they sell you! ..And we fell for most of them. We could've gotten three years worth of warranty and technical support for another $100ish and I declined. Tom's my tech support guy, haha. We did get the free* printer/scanner/copier and the .Mac software.

.Mac just allows you to make your own website for a year and save files you're working on there. It serves as your back-up in case you lose a paper you've been working on for a couple months. It's an additional $100, but you get a 30% discount when you buy a computer with it. I called Tom and he said it wasn't worth it, but my parents had already accepted it.

My Dad said he'd cover the rest of the costs, but that I still owe them the $600 I said I'd pay. I mean, we get $300 back from the purchase, but still.. I felt like I'd been jipped. Probably because they were things I didn't expect to be offered and we bought them all in one visit. I mean, really, $1700!

I couldn't buy my lamp because my parents said Binghamton might have an issue with a lamp that uses five bulbs at 40 watts each. I don't know where to find any restrictions on what to bring to our dormitories.. Oh well, I'll find out and I'll purchase it when I get around to it. I bought hangers, cups, an umbrella, a trash can and poster putty though! Ha, I was told to wait until I speak with my roomates before purchasing anything else.

There are some really sketchy employees at the Palisades.  Now I'm wondering if I had shit in my teeth or a booger in my nose..

And thanks to Tom for explaining all the above computer mumbo-jumbo I came across during the course of my research.

*after mail-in rebate

LiquidMetal tennis racket: $120
Tennis balls to go with tennis racket: 3 containers at $2.99 each
Birthday card: $5
Transformers tickets: $17
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: $10 -- Thanks Lauren!

I think we all know where I'm going with this, so..

Going canoeing and pitching my first tent with Tom: priceless

And now to start buying things I'll need for college.. Where do I even begin? I wish I knew who my roomates are going to be. Binghamton's assignments are completely random. No compatibility test; no nothing and it scares me. I hope I get cool nerdy chicks. Ideally, I'd want someone to be able to go shopping with for the latest fashion, study with for tests I'll procrastinate to review for, and play Guitar Hero with. Is that too much to ask? Then we can decide who brings the television, who has what console, who brings what games and stuff like that. If they have a redesigned PS2 already, that saves me the money to have to buy it myself. Tsh, I don't even know what my dormitory looks like! I went to orientation, but no one in my suite had an alarm clock so we were late for the tour of Mountainview. I've heard nice things about it, though. I need to save up money to buy winter clothes and a laptop, but I keep spending money left and right. The main things I want to buy are my MacBook and this awesome lamp Maria bought from Bed Bath and Beyond last year:

Multi Five-Light Floor Lamp: $19.99

We'll see if they have it at the Palisades. *crosses fingers*

Graduated on Friday, 22 June 2007.  Congrats everyone!

Here's the speech I said:

Good evening Class of 2007! These past four years have really flown by. I find it hard to believe it was just several years ago that we were in elementary and middle school – back when the girls were still taller than the guys and the existence of “cooties” divided the genders. How times have changed. It is amazing to think the friendships we have had have lasted one, two, six, even twelve or more years. Now, we sit here today as young adults. We sit among the teachers who molded us, the families who guided us, and the friends who cherished us to conclude a chapter in our lives, that is: graduating from Ossining High School.

As high schoolers, we wrote our own stories for the history books. We conquered our regents, SATs, and ACTs. We have kept Ossining Athletics on the map with several championships this year including Field Hockey, Cross Country, Ice Hockey, and Football. We survived sleepless nights; some slaving away to finish APUSH work that we conveniently forgot to start until the night before it was due. We will miss the funny comments from Mr. Watson as we walked through the halls, the thrill of coming into class and seeing Mr. Simon is the substitute teacher, and the words of wisdom from Mr. DiCarlucci during class.

 

Celebrating this momentous occasion would not have been possible without certain people and it is only right that they are recognized. Mr. Mandel always has an open mind to the ideas we students have. It was great having had him as our principal back at Brookside and ten years down the road, it is great having had him as our principal these past four years in high school. Thank you to the advisors, Ms. Kemencei and Mrs. Wager for putting up with the after-school meetings, votes, and “Proma.” To the teachers, counselors, and friends who have helped us get this far: it has been a blast. Thanks so much to our families for always believing in us when we sometimes could not believe in ourselves. Of course, thanks to all of you, members of ‘07, because each of your individual personalities has made this high school experience all the more unique. Finally, I would like to thank two very special people who could not make it today but are surely here with us in spirit.

 

Sharmain and Noah were, no doubt, awesome people. They were both very well known in the community and both possessed a shining quality that drew their friends to them. They, too, graduate with us and although we will go our separate ways, their memories keep us close and they remain alive and active through our remembrance of the wonderful lives they lived. I remember Sharmain sang in one of my fifth grade classes and her talent of song mesmerized everyone. I think many who have heard her would agree that she had the voice of an angel. I remember Noah’s smile and how impressed everyone was when he hulked up from break-dancing. He was always quick with a hug or a joke and his life motto of Fortitudo, or moral courage, has inspired and been adopted by everyone who knew him. So without further ado, as President of the Class of 2007, I would like to present OHS with the gifts of two bulletin boards; one in memory of Sharmain “Budda” Powell and the other of Noah Woodley-Aitchison. These boards will allow the underclassmen to have a designated area to decorate and post information each of their Classes will need to know. While simultaneously reminding their classmates of future fundraising events or meetings about Prom, generations of Ossining High School students will use these boards and remember Sharmain and Noah – along with the legacy the Class of ‘07 left behind. In this way, our two dear friends are immortalized and we can return to see their influence remains present and well.

 

Life has given us moments that took our breaths away; made us laugh until our stomachs hurt. We have also gotten our fair share of heartaches, but c’est la vie. It is the overcoming of adversity that makes us stronger and helps us come into our own as individuals. Our Class has had to mature a little too quickly but in it we have learned to make the best of days we have together. Life only happens once so live it up to its potential. Never forget your roots because the lessons we learned here are what will carry us forward to success. Next year, we enter that wild world of college. Moving on and starting over is a scary thought but this Class will go on knowing it has the support of all these people present today. It has been an honor spending this portion of my life with this group of young men and women. I will leave you with this quote: “There are many people who come and go in our lives. A few touch us in ways that change us forever making us better from knowing them.” I hope you all become that few to the many others you will encounter and keep the ones who have already had this effect on you. Congratulations ‘07! We did it! This is not good-bye, but until next time.

 

..I spoke too fast. Oh well