Long Time Gone

it's just one of those days where I am reminded that my life doesn't belong to me. it already belongs to God and I'm just along for the ride.

Rebels Immediately Regret Seizing Power In Zambia LUSAKA, ZAMBIA—None of the blood that filled our streets nor the carnage that choked our cities could have prepared us for these pathetic annual GDP figures," said former rebel and new head of state Uwimana Kowry.

Our delegation of Elegant Eight Mills women is heading to NYC to "represent" the Marshall Islands for the model UN conference in March! Way too exciting. Can't wait. My current assignment is to research the "General Assembly" part of the UN and present on it next week. Just a thrill. We're already making fun of the Marshall Islands since no one knows anything about them. I think we should show up to the conference dressed as "Miss Marshall Islands," complete with tiara, sash, and bikini. Jenny thinks we should brush up on our mai tai skills, and I think her study of water resources should include surfing. It's going to be a blast. I cannot wait!

wherein i shall post quotes from the speech and cite examples of their hypocrisy.

I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT ALL ALONG! My medication is causing my bone loss! I knew it! Two scientific studies just came out today with data correlating my medication with bone loss. What am I supposed to do about this? I bet my bones were like steel before this happened. I am so upset, you have no idea.

*sigh of relief*. i'm taking four academics this semester (4.5, including UN, which is rapidly losing my interest) and some PE classes. just right. i can already feel the ease in workload. that means it's time for a job and some serious off-campus time. most of our friends are gone now, so i have more time to myself, which is valuable, if not always fun.

my first glimpse of existential freedom tonight; making a run for the finish line! all that gets left behind, even among new beginnings...

the eagle has landed! this is my first night back at school, and more importantly, my final semester as an undergraduate! i've already gone to fenton's with brenna and eaten at founders (twice). it's raining and i cannot wait for classes to start tomorrow!

I feel like a bear awakening from hibernation, as I approach graduation. Suddenly, it's OK to raise my head up and examine my surroundings. It's OK to let go of some of my survival mechanisms, I think. I'm really looking forward to the upcoming semester.

Wow. I'm recovering from my first-ever bout with food poisoning. I really don't recommend it. I have simply never been this ill to my GI tract, ever. I would be surprised if there is a single living thing, down to a lone bacterium, extant anywhere in my digestive system at all right now. It certainly doesn't feel like it. Oh, and drinking carbonated water or 7Up when ill really helped flush out my stomach. No kidding. Now it's about replacing electrolytes without triggering the knee-jerk elimination process, which I'm hoping is less active now that there really doesn't seem to be anything left inside of me.

It's raw outside! It feels more like Chicago or New York than California. I'm comfortably ensconced at Peet's Coffee in Los Altos, contemplating my upcoming volunteer shift tonight, the rest of the weekend, and my plans for move-in day and the first week of classes next week at Mills.

I'd really like to work for "The Onion" or "The Colbert Report," but I don't know where to begin.

CNN drones on and on with the same shallow news stories for hours. Dramatic music, interspersed with frequent assurances from Wolf Blitzkrieg's monotone that there really is "much more straight ahead" comprise the bulk of the program. For better or worse, the show is peppered with viewer emails read by one man whose sole purpose seems to be doing just that (from people who seem to have little else to do than opine on the one or two overblown stories on CNN). Meanwhile, I'm trying to fashion my still-thinning hair into a style worn by actresses in Jane Austen, Josephine Bonaparte-era flicks. I could really use some pointers when it comes to hairstyles.

McCain is having to shift his platform so far to the right, thanks to the radicalization of the conservative movement in this country that he will make himself irrelevant to anyone left of moderate Republicans, in my view. A shame, because he's a good man and would make a fine candidate, were it not necessary to pander to the anti-science, hate-based evangelical base of the one-time Republican Party.

Your Birthday Today: Your radical new look will cause heads to turn, as complete strangers hurry to avoid eye contact with you. Aries: When times are tough and the world around you seems grim, don't be afraid to turn to religion for a good, hearty laugh. Taurus: Your bold, take-no-prisoners attitude has made you who you are today: one of the least successful criminal prosecutors in the country. Gemini: A profound sense of sorrow will be brought on this week by the realization that you've grown too old to have fewer children. Cancer: Your science-fiction novel will be heralded as a "work of utmost urgency and importance" by critics in a mirror universe this week. Leo: Inmates across the country will soon recount the story of how you once made a small shiv from nothing more than a larger shiv. Virgo: While couples who live together often begin to look alike over time, an apartment-wide fire this week will bring about the resemblance in just hours. Libra: Remember: Only ...

Nigeria Chosen To Host 2008 Genocides ABUJA, NIGERIA-Nigeria is excited for the chance to follow in the footsteps of Somalia, Rwanda, and Sudan.

Robbie Knievel Jumps Entire Generation's Awareness BUTTE, MT—In his most dangerous and ambitious feat to date, motorcycle stuntman Robbie Knievel, the 44-year-old son of 1970s daredevil...

From footage of President Ford's funeral: President Bush was seated in the pews one row ahead of his father. As Ford's casket was carried down the aisle, the elder Bush held his spine erect and shoulders back, as if he were still in the military. He probably didn't even think about it--he was a World War II pilot and probably did so out of habit. George W. Bush, however, had his shoulders hunched over, wore a bored expression on his face, and barely acknowledged the casket as it went past. A picture worth a thousand words.

*sigh* As part of my anti-bone thinning campaign, I went to an intermediate vinyasa flow yoga course. I then proceeded to Starbucks, where I wish I'd brought my computer for some blogging from the edge of reason. Instead, I completely two sudoku puzzles and thought over the events of the past few days. Then I went up to Palo Alto to see "The Painted Veil," which was pretty good, given the actors (Naomi Watts, Ed Norton, and Liev Schreiber), and a decently unpredictable plot.

It seems that a drama or soap opera inevitably puts one of its characters into drug rehab. This seems to be the universal dumping-ground for a lack of inspiration, when the show's writers have put their heads together for one last time and are unable to come up with any other story lines (a possible exception, even though it's been part of the plot from the beginning, is "House," even though it was the inspiration for my point to start with).

Turns out my boy Barack went to Harvard (even if it was for law school). Another gold star for him, in my book.

Quite a drought of internet access here, and what a difference that lack makes! Yikes! Now we're up and running after two phone calls each with Comcast and Apple. Too bad the wireless doesn't work, yet, though, since I'd much rather use my laptop in my room than blog alone in the den, where I currently am. Hooray for multitasking! The usual madness of a new semester begins on Tuesday, however, this is the final beginning! Graduation is already upon me (well, us, in the form of announcements and invitations). It's so exciting that so many friends and family are already inquiring and wanting to come. I still listen to Portuguese in the car, and am studying a bit on my own. Very interesting language. Had a good talk with Heesh today; am still digesting it all. A favorite comedian of mine, Lewis Black, has a show he calls "Back in Black," which is what I adapted for the title to this post.

*sigh* I think I've discovered that writer's block is more like an outer manifestation of inner metamorphosis. I haven't really blogged in quite awhile, and it's because my inner wheels have been turning and creaking around. Lots of changes taking place. My dear father's Alzheimer's is progressing. My mom is trying to acclimate our new cat to our surroundings, with a fair amount of success. He looks so much like Muffy! I'm listening to Portuguese CDs in the car because I love languages. School begins (for the last time) next week. Before I know it, graduation will be upon us, and that means looking for a job! There are so many things I can think of to do, and I really want to be an expert at whatever I do, which means more schooling. I just don't know when or where yet. It's fun to get off campus more often. There is so much to do and see. I'd like to get a job this semester, too, for more spending money and to feel empowered. I can...

I saw "Notes on a Scandal" tonight, and it is quite the Judi Dench-Cate Blanchett face-off. I agree with Robert Roeper, however, in his newly-found confident opinion (sans erstwhile senior sidekick Roger Ebert) that Philip Glass' soundtrack is a bit much. It seemed to play almost as large a part as any of the characters in the film. It was more a character study of Judi Dench's "Barbara" than of Blanchett's "Sheba." I also saw "Little Children," an un-redeeming, kicked-in-the-stomach-feeling type film, which deals unsuccessfully with pedophilia and infidelity, and "Children of Men," whose Holocaust-like imagery was its highlight, in my opinion (as far as comparing a future scenario of desperation with what happened in Nazi Germany).

I want a PhD, I've decided, but I don't know in what, yet, so I'm going to get a good job for awhile to see what's out there and further hone my interests.

I feel really stressed with all the various factors I'll be juggling this semester.

my bone loss is worse than previously reported. one more problem/headache/expense/side effect of bipolar treatment to worry about.

a dance so forbidden, apparently, that it's difficult to find anything on the topic. just saw a dreadful movie that purports to be about the lambada, but it didn't really look like more than choreography to my overly discriminating eyes. i'm learning portuguese. i bought some language CDs today and am working on the accent. pretty exciting stuff. i think with a dictionary and verb book i could probably figure out parts of news stories like on the brazilian bbc page. i'd love to be an accent expert for the CIA or something. spent last night in good ole oakland (the non-gunshot-narrated part). heesh and i went to a club and had some drinks. she wanted to dance but i'm dreadful at regular, club-style dancing so i was a little sheepish but i'm glad she made me get on the dance floor. i must figure this out! she's agreed to be my personal trainer and language coach. i'm very lucky. it turns out my bone loss is pretty serious, so i've been referr...

Mars Rover Beginning To Hate Mars PASADENA, CA—After nearly three years of nonstop data collection, Spirit has begun transmitting obscene gestures and confusing rants.

Bush: 'Our Long National Nightmare Of Peace And Prosperity Is Finally Over' WASHINGTON, DC-Mere days from his inauguration, president-elect Bush vowed to undo the damage not done by the Clinton Administration.

I feel like I've hit the ground running in the New Year. So much to keep track of; and I'm graduating this year! Incredible. Thank to all of you without whose support I would not be where I am today. More to come.