Better By Nightfall

I - Thou Shalt Nap
And God gave unto Student a great gift, the gift of napping. God said
to him, You shall spend half your day napping. You shall nap in class,
in your room and in your friend's room. And God said, if you don't
nap, you will not be able to stay up all night drinking. And Student
said, Nap I shall, and it was good.

II - Thou Shalt Get Sick All the Time
Now God said to Student, you must be sick all of the time. And student
said why. And God said unto him, you shall share drinks, stay up too
late, drink too much and make out with people you don't know.
Therefore, God said, you shall be sick all year round. But God said,
blessed are the sick for they have partied the hardest. And it was
good.

III - Thou Shalt Write Witty Away Messages
Student asked, but God, how will I show everyone that I am funny? And
God said unto him, thou shall write witty away messages. God said to
student, you shall never just say you are in the shower, you shall say
you are getting wet and wild in the shower. You shall never say you
are at class, you shall say you are sleeping in class. God said, if
you do not write witty away messages, I shall smite you. Blessed are
the funny, for they will get many girls to be their friends but never
hook up with them. And it was good.

IV - Thou Shalt Wear a Hoodie
And then Student asked God, God how do I look like a college kid. And
God said unto student, you must wear a hoodie, for it is a useful
garment. And you shall never wash it either. Student asked God what
kind of Hoodie should it be and God said, you shall own one with your
school's logo on it and you shall own many others of varying colors
and creeds. And Student was pleased and God was pleased.

V - Thou Shalt Shit a Lot
And Student asked of his bathroom habit and God told him, Student, you
shall eat in the Cafeteria and you shall shit a lot. And it will not
be good shit, it will be the shit of the devil for your ass shall burn
for hours. Your school shall put laxatives in their food and you shall
feel their pain. And Student began to weep, and God said unto him,
Student, fear not the shit, for all your fellow students will be
experiencing the same. And Student dried his eyes and thanked God and
God told him to use wet naps to ease the pain.

VI - Thou Shalt Eat EasyMac
Student asked unto God if there was any alternatives to the cafeteria,
and God said to him, you shall eat a lot of EasyMac. It is easy to
make and you don't need milk or a stove. And student said microwaves
were forbidden by the RA. And God said to him, you shall hide the
microwave under your bed with a towel on top. And Student asked, what
if it is discovered. And God told him to stop being such a pussy, and
it was good.

VII - Thou Shalt Hook Up
Student then asked of sex. And God said, Student, you shall hook up
and be happy. You shall go home with random people every weekend and
forget about them the next day. You shall see them at class and be
awkward amongst their company. You shall exchange saliva at bars and
parties and it will be good. And Student became gleeful and God told
Student to wrap it up because He knows where she has been, but Student
does not.

VIII - Thou Shalt Join a Club and Never Go to Meetings
Student inquired of his spare time and God reminded him that he should
be napping. But Student said he wanted to do other things. So God said
unto him, you shall join a club at the beginning of the semester, but
then never go to meetings. And Student asked why he should not go to
meetings, and God told him, because the glee club is gay. And Student
understood His wisdom.

IX - Thou Shalt Wake Up Confused
God said to Student, there will come many a day when you shall wake up
in the bed of another and not know where you are. You will not
remember what you did last night and you shall be confused. You will
see that you have nipple rings and a tattoo now and are covered in
Sharpie. And Student was disturbed by this, but God said, you shall
tell great stories about it to your friends someday. And Student
understood and God took a sip of a beer.

And God gave Student the final Commandment:

X - Thou Shalt Gain Weight
And Student wished to hear the final commandment and God said he would
not like it. But Student insisted, so God said unto him, you shall
gain weight. However, God said, you will not buy new clothes, so you
will wear sweat pants a lot. God said, Student, you will watch a lot
of TV and become fat to which Student wept profusely. But God
comforted Student saying, you will still get ass even if you cannot
tie your shoes anymore. Student felt better and God pointed to
Student's chest saying, those will soon be bitch tits. And it was
good.

This is the word of God, follow the Ten Commandments of College or you
will be smote!


Thanks to Elaine who e-mailed this to me!

Here are some of the photos I snapped on our first day in Munich. If you want the story behind them, go click on the photos and they will lead you to flickr where the description of each photo is. If you start with the last picture (The One of The Sculpture At The Jezuit Church) and follow the rest of them in order on flckr, you will get the whole story of our first day in Munich. ;)

I have to say that Nancy and I had one hell of a time at the Hofbrauhaus! That's why these pictures are in reverse chronological order. Plus, the first one is my favorite out of all my pictures taken while with Nancy! :D

Hmm. I think it's fairly accurate. I tired it two times more (seriously), changing a few of the answers, and got Yoda and then Qui-Gon Jinn again. For fun, I had to see if they had Wicket the Ewok, and they did. Haha! He amuses me!

Thanks for the quiz link, Bree!

I haven't been in much of a blogging mood lately, probably due in part to the fact that I don't have much to report in the daily dealings of my life. There really hasn't been much excitement (or boredom, but not with Nancy or at home ;D) since my recent travels with Nancy, but rather a fine balance of bland normalcy that is being home alone or with the family. That shouldn't suggest that I'm not happy being home because I certainly am; however, I am starting to realize that there are many things I need to set in order. For starters, I need to get a job so I'm not moping around the house all day, tempted by the PS2 and all it's majesty and might. I also need the money. However, I won't be spending any of it anytime soon because I won't have a debit card for about another three weeks. I also need to get my loan dealings set up and finished as soon as possible so that I have the extra money I know I'll need for next year. I have all these e-mails to send and little things to do, like debate. Still, I'm just barely motivated to accomplish much of it. It's only one thing at a time, a little, a few. I haven't managed to get it all done and escape it too.

My card has been cancelled and now I have to re-order a new card for nine dollars. I haven't been too motivated to do anything as of late because it has been too hot. I will upload the photos soon, I've just been lazy and unmotivated.

Once again we are at another internet cafe here in Berlin. Yesterday was a fairly nice day with lots of walking, most of which will be detailed later when I've had time to relax and make sure all things are in order.

Today, however, has been interesting in particular becuase I think I lost or misplaced my debit/credit card, so I haven't been able to withdrawl any extra money that would be needed for getting lunch and getting home. With pulling my wallet out here and getting my student ID card, it's possible that, if I had it while I was here, it fell out. However, I'm not sure if I had it or not. It might just be sitting on my dresser, it might not be. I don't know. XD The last time I used it was when I withdrew money from the bank to go bowling with Steph. Damn you Steph! This is all your fault!!! Just kidding. I'm sure it will all work out either way.

The crazy robot/computer ticket man at the Checkpoint Charlie Museum who said Nancy's student ID "Does not show grade status" in robot fashion and was a huge asshole.

The rest of the museum was very unorganized, confusing, and kind of nasty. Boo! Nicht Schoen!!

Nancy and I are here at another internet cafe. After an eventful afternoon yesterday, we settled with seeing only a few things most of the stuff we wanted to see was either too far away or closed soon. Between visiting sights we would exchange "schoen" moments'--this, of course, goes back to a story moment that I had on the train ride up here. While I was standing on the train, yes, standing, from Mannheim to Frankfurt, this woman kept walking up and down the aisle next the the compartment booths and bathroom around the area where I was. Well, as she walked by the train to a sharp turn and she smacked her head into the train right between me and the Chinese lady standing to my left. I looked over at the Chinese lady, who thought it right to say nothing and just looked at the lady. So, trying to be sympathetic I said "schoen," which I thought meant "Aww" or "I'm sorry" or something like that, but it actually means "Good job!" Needless to say, I felt like a bit of an asshole in retrospect.

Aside from that, though, we got to see the Berlin Church yesterday and walk around the top ring of the church. It was a great view and we took lots of pictures until I realized my camera was dying. Damn camera! However, as we made our way back down from the top we both realized that our hands were getting very disgusting. I remarked that I felt my hands had been bathed in shit at least five times while going down the stairs. So, we washed our hands as we were leaving because it was nasty!

We also went to the Berlin TV Tower, and we were actually planning on eating dinner there until we found out the cost of the tickets to get to the top. They were 7.50 euro, which is roughly 10 dollars...and totally out of our budget. Nancy asked them if they had a student pass and they said they didn't, so we both looked at each other and said "Nein" in front of the ticket booth. We assume they were laughing at us as we walked away, but the whole situation was funny.

Aside from that, we really didn't do much else. We went to dinner at an Irish Pub and had a good time there before hooking it up with the subway and going to the swanky bar across the street from our hostel for another beer. After that we headed back to the hostel and went to bed.

As for today, we're going to try and see as much as possible, but we'll see how that goes. We got caught off guard by these "plain clothes subway police" that looked like normal people until they pulled out the badges like some action-hero and demanded everyone show them their pass. There were two of them. One was short and kind of chubby. The other one was tall and very lanky, he even looked kind of like Chace in dress. Hahaa! Yeah, Chace, you'd fit right in here with the rest of the metros!!!

Well, I'm out. I need to let Nancy check her e-mail and write stuff! I'm an internet whore! XD

I head out to Berlin tomorrow morning around 6:13 in the morning and arrive around noon. Yeah, that's going to be a blast. Thankfully I only have to change trains once and I should be able to sleep from there on out, hopefully. As an added bonus, my second train is Nancy's second train too, so we'll both be on the same train for about three hours of the six hours trip for me. Plus, when we return we'll be on the same train for two hours and then I'll have four boring hours on the way back home. Woo, can't wait for that!

As for places we plan on seeing in Berlin, I personally would like to visit the Stasi Headquarters, but it's not in downtown Berlin so it might not be on the list. I'd also like to see Checkpoint Charlie Museum and the Brandenburg Gate, both are things I know Nancy wants to see so we'll probably be doing those for sure. Still, nothing is set in stone yet. As such, the details will be worked out tomorrow on the train while I'm caffeinated or after a nap...hopefully the latter of the two.

Well, I'm off to bed now. I need to get some sleep or else it's going to be a very bad train ride up to Berlin. :P

I'll post photos from both Berlin and Munich after I get back from Berlin and set up the software for my camera on my parents computer. Sound good? Check you later, Internet! (Caryn, I miss you and I'll be calling you when I get back!)

We're back at the internet cafe on our last day in Munich. Wow! It's been such a blast. I wish we could've been here longer, but that's just how it goes. Yesterday we saw some more museums and had a great time. The first one we went to told us we had to pay after we snapped some photos, so we just left. It was funny! The guy looked constipated anyway, so we knew he couldn't run us down. Soon after, we headed to another museum. At this art museum we went to, there was this cranky German man who wouldn't help us put our stuff into the locker because he was disgruntled about work or whatever, so we had to do it ourselves. He tried to gype me two euros too! I was like, uh, I don't fucking think so!! At the last museum we went to, the German Museum, Nancy and I sped through it pushing all these buttons to see how things worked...but only a few of them actually worked. Then we saw this beef jerky looking thing that was actually an oil collector/cleaner and decided we needed to go to a different part of the museum. We ended up looking at the history of Paper. Woo! :D

Oh! Random thought! While I was taking a shower the other day I heard two lesbians having sex! Hahahah!

Anyway, yeah, we're heading out of here around noon. So, I think we have one last trip planned for the day and then it's break time before Berlin! Hah! What a rock'n trip this has been!

Hey all! Nancy and I are here at a local internet cafe checking e-mail and getting ready to go to our next destination of sorts today.

Yesterday, after arriving around noon, we headed to some churches, markets, and ended up seeing the Glockenspeil. We also went to the Haufbrau House for dinner...and DRINKING! It was sooo much fun! We were fortunate enough to get seated at a very festive table with very friendly people. The woman at the end of the table kept making "kissy-faces" at Nancy and I who, for obvious reasons, were very amused and shocked that she would think to ask us to do that. Regardless, we both had our beers and had a great time. By the end of the night I had two whole liters of beer! Yes, I know that's crazy. It was so awesome though. I hope we get to go back again!

As for today, we have some museum trips planned so that's what we're heading out to do right now. I'll check back with you all later and let you know what else has been going on here in Munich.

Yo! I'm off to Munich for the next two and a half days so I probably won't be posting much between now and then, unless I find an internet cafe. An internet cafe that is free or reasonably priced would be good. Doubt I find either. However, I will try to keep you updated if I can. I also plan on taking lots of pictures of all the things that Nancy and I are going to see together. I can't remember all the things on the agenda of things to see, but I'll let you know what they are/were when I post again.

Thank God I'm not alone on this trip! Except for the train switching and platform jumping. That's all alone from here to my destination. It shouldn't be too bad though. I can't imagine that I'll have to many problems trying to figure out how to get from one place to the next.

Heh! It's just about time to go here. I have a few more things to gather, so I'll talk to you later, Internet.

Inspired by such theme albums as The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, Everything in Transit weaves an autobiographical tale reflected in the storybook written into its liner notes. It begins with the laid-back, bohemian California mood of “Holiday from Real,” with McMahon coming home and feeling like a visitor in his own world. “The Mixed Tape” offers bursts of punk-flavored riffs along with lyrics such as “I read your letter, the one you left when you broke into my house... where are you now?”, segueing into the wistful “Lonely for Her.” The album’s emotional duality is shown in the hopeful and upbeat “I’m Ready,” followed by the sullen “Kill the Messenger.”

McMahon’s tribute to The Beach Boys is best heard on the sad-yet-sunny “Miss Delaney,” an electronica-flavored pop nugget with a synthesized theremin reminiscent of “Good Vibrations.” The disco flagellation of “Bruised” tumbles “Into the Airwaves,” McMahon’s otherworldly tenor drawing a fatalistic analogy: “I am slipping through, I am slipping into the airwaves / You are slipping through my fingers and into the airwaves.” Everything in Transit eases into acceptance with its final triptych of songs: the ballad “Rescued,” McMahon’s examination of his place in the world in “Made for Each Other,” and its denouement “You Can Breathe.”

It's albums like this, especially since I've been able to sample some of the songs, that I absolutely cherish. Soon enough, I will own a copy. I only wish I could see Jack's Mannequin in concert...

To date I've received six invitations to join Myspace. Six. Usually I wouldn't care about getting these invitations as I usually delete them, but the fact that the invitations "re-send" or can be resent bugs me. I don't mind the site itself. I'm sure it's great for those that want to use it for whatever reasons (i.e. to re-connect with friends, popularity, sex-trade, cybering, getting stalkers, etc.), but ultimately I think it serves no real purpose. It's like hotornot meets classmates meets e-harmony...three sites I could really care less for--especially since I've been on the first and accrued a 16-year-old cyber stalker; received numerous annoying updates on the second that I can't seem to get rid of; and can't help but think the third is a big scam.

I can't think of any real purpose though. Except reconnecting with people or judging people based on their photos. It has been interesting to see some people on there though. People I hadn't given a second though to, until now.

However, I digress.

Whatever the main purpose the site actually serves, good or bad, is not a concern of mine. And now that I've managed to block all e-mails from Myspace, I'm sure I won't have to worry about them anymore.

Now, I wonder if it's the same for facebook?

The "undetermined grades" have been posted now, so I know what my GPA will be this semester. And while it's not a bad GPA, I can clearly say that I'm not sure that the grades are accurate. In fact, I think that two of them in particular could be grounds for a challenge.

However, there exists some difficulty in a challenge, even more so since I'm in Germany. I've already e-mailed one of my professors and I'm currently working on getting a hold of the other one. We'll see how this game goes down after I've had time to review the grade breakdowns and see if there is even ground enough to challenge the grade that has been given.

Check the "New Jack's Mannequin" link on my blog to hear two new songs (We Were Made For Eachother/You Can Breathe and Into The Airwaves) off the New CD Everything In Transit coming out July 12th.

One of the first things that I've missed since returning home, surprisingly, is real television. Not reality television or that fake junk on MTV, VH1, and numerous other networks. No, I mean real television as in television outside the bounds of sitcoms and informational shows. Unfortunately those are the only things on our network of channels here, so I'm learning to live with it again.

Thankfully, some of my favorite networks from the states (Comedy Central in particular) post various video clips from shows that I watched throughout the year on the internet for viewing pleasure. During that last two days I've visited Comedy Central's site to watch clips from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart since most of the news I get here is, well, government-based and very conservative. Besides, there's no humor in it. No humor means no enjoyment, which also means me not watching it.

Aside from Comedy Central, though, I've found that I'm already starting to miss Adult Swim on Cartoon Network. Who knew that the shows on that station would become such a staple in my viewing diet? I didn't. Ok, yeah, I did; but, I didn't think they'd have such residual effects on me. Now I'm reduced to watching, well, not much of anything.

Perhaps this is a good thing though. Watching television doesn't get much done. In fact, it doesn't really get anything done. And sure, it comforting to see Katie Couric tell me the news while looking sexy, but I could read it in the paper with less spin and have a better understanding of what's going on--unless it's the local paper, then there's still spin. I'm starting to see that, in this time before I get a job, I have free time to do my own thing and be happy in all of it. It's a sense of solitude. A free feeling where I'm reflecting, relaxing, and reviving. I don't think I've had time enough like this in a long time. And right now, it's the remedy to my previous problems. Problems that aren't anything anymore, but broken bricks of burden off my back and on the floor.

Wow! Cheesy brochen and schnitzel never sounded so good!

I haven't had any German food yet, but I'm sure that I'll have my fair share of good food during my travels to Munich and Berlin with Nancy (a fellow colleague, debate team-member, and friend) later this week and next week.

After a day of readjusting to a new time schedule, I'm back in Germany and doing well. The flights both went well with the exception of an annoying side light above my head that didn't shut off for the whole flight across the ocean. Thankfully God allowed for Dramamine to be created for such instances as they became my saving grace in this time of need. So, I managed to sleep for almost the whole flight.

When I got home, the first thing I did after greeting the family was take a nice long shower. I don't know what it is, but flying just makes me feel extra dirty. Even more so when it's for long flights. Maybe it's all the people? After my shower, I talked with my family and shared all the stories and pictures with them from the year. Most of which were enjoyed and laughed at, while others were received with a "WTF" or something similar to it. And in the time between the stories and running to the base, I thought about how thankful I was to be able to come home and scuff off the year and mark it down to learning. This year was a great year, but it was also a difficult year. It was cyclical in work and emotions. I've never had so much work that I felt exhausted just thinking about it, and yet had so little work that I didn't have to worry about doing much of it. From being extremely happy and hyper to being "emo-depresso" and mopey, it was by far the most eventful year I've ever experienced. Good and bad, to all who contributed: Thanks for all of it. I wouldn't feel the way I feel about myself and where I am at now without all of you and all the things that happened.

Now, that it's almost lunch time here I think it's time to get started on my beer that I bought yesterday. Yes. I. BOUGHT. BEER. And yeah, I'm drinking it because I want to and because I can!

Please remember that all of my posts will be at strange times due to my presence in Germany over the summer. It is an eight hour time difference between Idaho time and German time, so just add eight hours to whatever time the post is published on my blog and that is actual time I wrote it in Germany.
Though, some of the post times won't be that unusual since I often posted during the late nights I was up doing homework or just being an insomniac.

And all the joys it brings. :P

Well, maybe not everyone*.
*Cinco, renamed for her protection and crazy personalities, certainly has not unless we count her multiple imaginary sex partners. In which case, yeah, not even Paris Hilton can compare.

Finals are finally done. Thankfully, I didn't have trouble with most of them except Japanese. This was mostly due in part to my lack of concern for the class (especially ever since I started taking it with my former/current professor of this year) and the fact that he's a big douche bag about being a professor and how he teaches. He's a nice, funny guy, but he's an absolutely horrible professor. Too bad he's tenured. As such, the Japanese department on my campus will continue to suck until the department does something about him, if ever. Eh. What's done is done though.

As of right now, I'm tying up some loose ends. First I have to send some transcripts off. Then I have to pack my stuff up for pick-up tomorrow. And an assortment of other things to do tonight and tomorrow before I fly back to Germany to see my family. At least these days won't be as busy as the last few were here.

Well, time is running short right now. Looks like I better get started...

I've been studying for my Japanese Language Final for a few hours now and I'm not too worried about it. Why? Well, instead of actually understanding the language and how to pronounce the words and symbols, all I really need to know is what the kanji looks like and where it was placed on these original quizzes and tests. In fact, I could probably memorize the number order per word on each quiz and test and probably ace the final.

Wow! I'm sure glad I spent two years learning (how to memorize) Japanese!


Post-Script: [Wednesday @ 12:20PM] He didn't do too much changing up, but he did put some stuff on the test that he did not tell us about. Those parts were slightly difficult, but I managed. The written exam seems like it went well enough, but the oral exam totally sucked balls because it was something we barely even studied (giving directions). During which time I told him, in Japanese, "I understand what you are saying/asking, but...(I can't respond)." Apparently he didn't really care for that answer though. Douche. I'm just glad his stupid shit is over. Whata'fucker!

My finals in chronological order:

• Calculus I [Monday] (6 Problems. Some similar to old tests, but none from previous tests. Worth 30% of my total grade.) Completed with a mild pace. I think I did well on it.
  
• Japanese Culture and Society [Monday] (Random number of multiple choice questions and a few essay questions. Worth 20% of my total grade.) Completed quickly with competency. I know I did very well on it.
  
• Japanese Language [Wednesday] (Combination of old tests and quizzes with some new stuff. Worth 20% of my total grade.) Completed. Part of it were easy, some were a little difficult. I think I did well on the written exam, but probably bombed the oral exam as expected.
  

As for my other classes: I'm sure I have an "A" in Speech, an "A" in Debate, and a "P" for my Internship for Reasoned Discourse. With the right mindset and some kick ass work on these finals, I might have a great GPA for this semester that will increase my overall GPA. Schweet! It's time to KILL FINALS!

My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Sword of Courteous Debate.

Get yours.

I had my first real study session for a final today. I know that sounds kind of funny--I'm a Sophomore, so I should've had group study sessions since I entered college. I don't know. I guess I've just never felt the need to study with other people because I'm usually well enough on my own, but with Calculus it's a completely different story. Today, we gathered together to study Calculus and kick ass on the final, hopefully.

I'm starting to feel a little better about my Calculus final. It doesn't feel like it will be as hard, but it still worries me. I'm still not very sure that I'll do well. Granted, I really only need a "C" on the final to pass the class, but I really would like to pass the class with a better grade than that. A "B" in Calculus would not only be good for all the work I put into it, but also boost my GPA if the rest of my grades go as planned. But, I'm not going to go hardcore on studying for this final because I know that it's best to take a few breaks in between and breathe it out. So, that's what I'll be doing the rest of the day--studying for finals. (Not that my culture class final really even matters because the class is completely worthless.)

Yeah! That's right! You read that correctly. This is the newly updated template. Nice, huh?

I call it "Holiday From Real :: Fuckabee Green." I used the lyrics from "Holiday From Real" for the masthead, which I found on deviantart and modified. Many thanks again to doub7, who's image is displayed here. I used these shades of green because they are similar to the ones on the I (heart) Huckabees DVD cover. Fuckabee just sounded better though.

So, what do you think of the kewl, clean, l337 style?

Holiday From Real
by Jack's Mannequin
from Everything In Transit

She thinks I'm much too thin
She asks me if I'm sick
What's a girl to do
With friends like this
She lets me drive her car
So I can score an eighth
From the lesbians
Out west in Venice

Oh, California in the Summer
Ah, and my hair is growing long
Fuck yeah, we can live like this

But if you left it up to me
Everyday would be
A holiday from real
We'd waste our weeks
Beneath the sun
We'd fry our brains
And say it's so much fun out here
But when it's all over
I'll come back for another year

I'll look for work today
I'm spilling out the door
Put my glasses on
So no one sees me
I never thought that
I'd be living on your floor
But the rents are high
And LA's easy

Oh, it's a picture of perfection
Ah, and the postcards gonna read
"Fuck yeah we can live like this...
We can live like this"

But if you left it up to me
Everyday would be
A holiday from real
We'd waste our weeks
Beneath the sun
We'd fry our brains
And write it's so much fun out here

Hey Madeline (hey Madeline)
You sure look fine (you sure look fine)
You wore my favorite sweater
Being poor was never better
A safety buzz (A safety buzz)
Some cheap red wine (Some cheap red wine)
Oh, the trouble we can get in
So let's screw this one up right

But if you left it up to me
Everyday would be
A holiday from real
We'd waste our weeks
Beneath the sun
We'd lie and tell our friends
It's so much fun out here
But when it's all over
I'll come back for another year

When it's all over
I'll come back for another
When it's all over
I'll come back for another year

Becuase I couldn't say it better...

In regards to my previous post, I'm happy to say that my computer survived tonight and allowed me to finish all my work, leaving me clear to study for finals this weekend. Thank God!

For being good, computer, I'm going to upgrade you like you've never been upgraded before. You will be beyond l337! :D

First off, I'd like to thank my computer for crashing on me three times in a row last night while I was re-writing my Japanese Culture Paper (only a fraction of it thankfully) as it corrupted the night before. It was great to see you, my dear computer, so alive. Burning up and then dying on me in mid-sentence, in mid-thought. Alas, I just gave up on you completely because it really was no use to keep typing only to have you crash again and again. I'm not sure why you were being temperamental, but I beg of you not to do that again.

I'm also thankful that you at least let me finish the rest of my paper today. Now I can turn it in as long as something else bad doesn't happen. However, I'm worried. I'm worried because I have another paper to write and I think you'll just die on me again. So, please, if I start that paper up tonight because I want it done tonight, don't crash on me midway through it. Don't crash on me at all, for that matter. It just really bugs me.

I'll get you some new hardware when I have money if you're good, I promise. We'll get you fixed up with a better graphic card, some more memory, and another hard drive just for my music. You have to be good though. I can't have you dying on me before then or else I'll just have to replace the bad parts and you'll never grow. Promise me you'll be good tonight. Promise?

Yeah, screw my original Death List Five. Apparently my term paper which was finished decided to become corrupt. I managed to recover most of it--8 out of the 9.5 pages. So while I'm pissed off that it screwed me over, I'm glad that I have most of it done still. I guess I'll just have to get up early (as in a few hours from now) and finish it off so I can focus on other, more important things that are due this week.

And just for venting purposes: Damn you Windows, DAMN YOU! How could you be so EVIL! I will exact my revenge, oh yes. You will pay!

Dear Death List Five,

I recently completed the second piece of you on my journey to KILL FINALS. It's been an interesting journey too. My first opponent was your wicked lessons in math, but I survived unscathed and defeated your ways. Your army of integrals and anti-derivatives attacked with great force, but alas, died in battle. It was not an easy battle, but through the help of my honorable master (a burned copy of the answers, BOTH even and odd), I took you down considerably fast. With no more lessons to take down, I moved on to my next topic of interest: The Japanese Culture Paper of DOOM!

It appeared innocent at first, until the research ensued and tried to consume me whole. Pages upon pages were read, numerous hours were spent on the computer, day after day at my desk for you--until tonight. You've met your end. With the closing paragraph and conclusion reached, you fell lifeless out of the printer into my hands. You'll soon be turned into the proper authorities, and I will receive a handsome reward for your demise.

Yet, I still have three tasks to accomplish--the last being to KILL FINALS. The Japanese Language Paper of Doom looms in the shadows, likely to be the next to fall. With it's confusing jargon, it will be a most admirable opponent that will pass quickly. Next, the TA paper will show itself only to be torn apart. And then I will exact my revenge on the one thing I've been working toward this whole semester: to KILL FINALS!

Thank God, once again, for Starbucks! I'm alive and well today thanks to my iced grande toffee nut latte.

Whew! Off to Calculus!

I'm not feeling suicidal, just in case the title of this post happened to scare you. But then, why would it? I'm not Japanese. Haha!

Actually, I'm quite tired from writing and almost finish my paper on Suicide in Japan for Culture class. It has turned out to be much longer than I originally thought it would be, but I think it's good. I'm going to have Lacey read over what I have done tomorrow. Hopefully I'll only have to add a little more on the implications of the increasing rate of suicide in Japan and then finish with a conclusion. That's what it looks like to me, pending Lacey's edits. (God, I hope they're aren't too many of them!)

As for me, well, I'm finally off to bed for the night. Check you later, Internet!

Jeez Veneliza! You didn't tell me that Fullmetal Alchemist would be so addicting! Oh, wait, wait. Actually, yeah, you did! =D

I've been looking around the apartment lately, watching the all colors fade to the taupe walls that were here from the beginning. (Perhaps the Jungian in me sees signs in all of this, but I dare not over-analyze it.) With each piece of color slowly stripped away, the old layer is revealed. There are holes that remain in corners where sheets of color stood, penetrating the old layer. And it's starting to look empty, starting to feel empty. Rooms that were full are becoming hallow. The hallowest of rooms is where we spend the least time now. The room that connects the apartment together is as empty as its existence. Things are starting to echo, lightly. Soon to increase in volume with each passing day.

I've found myself spending more time in my room, the only place that seems to thrive with color. It will be one of the last rooms to return to taupe. And when it does, it will be fast. All of it will disappear in one whole day instead of the progression most have done. The walls will be cleaned. The holes will be covered with oatmeal soap to hide the intrusions, but I'll know that they're still there and where they are. And I'll close this door one last time when the final bits of color are finally stored away, dragging my bags and my goodbyes.

I'll take one last glance at the place I called home for a year, just as I do every time I move. The shell of taupe. The walls, empty. The doors, locked. The keys, turned in. Walking away. The last goodbye.