the last sorriest excuse...

I am sorry. I am the worst of them all. Happy blated Birthday... I know that that means nothing. Like Talya, I also thought of you much in the days before the 21st of May, but then school started. Please, forgive me. I will try to do better. I love you.

My hedgehog smells awful. I have this theory that hedgehogs might be one of those animals that increases in smell as they age. Or, maybe he has hit puberty. Regardless of cage cleaning or whatever, it is just bad. Also, his poops are huge. I think there might be something wrong. You were lucky to get out when you did. Maybe I should change the brand of food that I am giving him. If I recall this might effect the smell of the feces.

That bonfire... it will be somewhere around the 19th of June. See, my friend Jon is turning 30 so some sort of festivities were in order. This seemed appropriate. You are all invited. In fact, I would really like it if you came. Bring your significant others. Also, bring some boxers (the men's underpants type)... I am not sure on the size... I will get back to you on that... best pattern wins.

As of right now, I have read 200 pages in a textbook in the last four days. I need to get in about 100 more this weekend. Bliss.

gone for good.

You won't being seeing me around for a while. I just got the syllabus for the 3 week intersession class that I am taking for the next 3 weeks. I am overwhelmed and a bit regretful. Three chapters a night, two assignments a week, and a midterm/final every Friday. Not fun.

So, I'll see you on the flip side.

I fixed the electricity.

I don't know what has happened to me. Was I very adult like and responsible when I lived with you last year? I am of the opinion that responsibility is one of those things that you grow into. Every person has a certain natural amount of the stuff, as in, some are just more naturally responsible than others. From that natural point, is there just a progression of increased responsibility or do we never pass that point and just further mature into the responsibility that was already there? Or, do we just one day wake up and suddenly find ourselves as adults and all of the stuff (i.e. responsibility) that we find is just what being an adult is?

It is also possible that my OCD has just gone out of control, or it could be all of the above. I am really at a lose of understanding.

I finished my Spring semester at Kent State. All in all, I would say that it was quite a success. I participated in my first public protest (war), attended my first academic symposium (on democracy), and I think that I might have grown as a person (intellectually, and emotionally). I am very much at peace with myself, my choices, and the direction that I am moving in (something that I have been looking for for years). I suppose better late than never.

Sorry, I failed to take pictures, but I tore down a barn Thursday/Friday, all by myself, and with my bare hands. It was amazingly satisfying, and now I look at that bare ground and feel great. I only found one dead animal (I think that it was a groundhog (two halves of one whole) but not really sure). The injuries were minor: hammer dropped on ankle causing minor gash, big board dropped on knee causing large goose egg and giant bruise, and hole in right ring finger caused by I have no idea what.

Soon, there will be a bonfire. I will keep you informed.

Where have all the cowboys gone?

Do you remember that song? Good stuff. I am supposed to be writing a Politics of the Global Economy final right now. However, the Latin American debt crisis just isn't doing it for me right now. I hate finals. This may seem normal, but I am quite thrown off by my feelings. I can manage to push through the entire semester with focus and diligence. Then, finals roll around and I become the world's biggest slacker. At this point, I have no answer, so I will do my best not to fail them all.

I weeded one of my flower beds yesterday. The mass of dandelions put up a good fight, but I beat them out in the end. I hate the grass clippings left over after I mow the lawn, but I am to lazy to rake them. Are there any other options? I think that I am going to look into getting some new gravel for my driveway.

We are going to have a bonfire. Do you want to come?

i need a new starter.

I am happy to announce that I now have the cable and the wireless internets! The cable guy was quite friendly, but he left the cords a big mess. Is that typical?

Last night I went to see Over the Rhine. It was outstanding, and I told them so. They came into Starbucks this morning. Apparently, Jillian made quite an embarrassment of herself. I wish that I had been there to see it. The show was flawless. However, there was a bit of a high school reunion, for which I was not prepared, and it was therefore a bit difficult.

Were you able to carry your buzz? Was the dinner party a success?

For yesterday, I win the best roommate ever award. First, I cleared the sticks and twigs that had gathered in the lawn over the fall/winter. Then I removed the giant smelly dead squirrel from the yard. Next I mowed the extra long grass. Lastly, I gave my roommate a lesson on how best to load and run a dishwasher and taught her how to use the fancy bean grinder. Oh, I got rid of the couch too!

I am feeling really good about myself. Plus, today, is my last really real day of classes for the semester, which I think is quite delightful.