GOLD IS JUST A TRICK OF THE LIGHT

I am wearing brand new underwear that say, "je taime" all over them. That is "I love you" in French.

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are playing in Pittsburgh tonight, and I am going to be right up front, getting TLRX's articulate sweat all over my face.

I had a wonderful talk with one of my old professors yesterday; he seemed to think that, no matter what happened, I would be successful in my life. What a great idea.

This morning I ate a "hangover cure" burrito at Kiva Han, and they spelled out my name in hot sauce.

My new winter coat really does its stuff very well.

I just reread one of my stories from last semester, and it's really pretty good. I have come to the conclusion that I can actually write fiction.

My complexion is really good these days.

I've finally had time to read for pleasure again.

My essays from this semester are really pretty awesome. Personal essay has been such a great experience. I am Joan Didion with training wheels.

The Fugees are still really good. I wish I had Lauryn Hill's solo album here.

I heard the song "Say My Name" exactly when I wanted to last night.

I think my life is going to be pretty good. I mean, this semester is kind of crappy right now, because during the last week of classes I have two presentations, a final, a concert, and a few more papers to write. I'm surprised my hands don't get up and type things while I'm asleep; I think they've forgotten their previous lives as hands. But, but! Even with all of this, I feel happy. I'm glad I'll be home in a few weeks (and reading big-ass novels again), and my poetry is going pretty well, and I have the feeling that everything I do adds up to something. Do you know that story about the crow who wants to get a drink of water from a pail, but he can't because the pail is too tall, so he carries stones to it one by one and fills up the pail until the water level is high enough for him to drink from it? That was a pretty smart crow.

I think I've over-used the words "good," "great," and "really good" in this entry. Please re-read it and substitute the words "exciting," "vast," and "exemplary" as suits you. All words used to describe Terra Haute, Indiana.

RING, RANG, RUNG

Some lessons learned: Thanksgiving is more enjoyable if you eat meat. Also, if you've been following football. Also, if you've slimmed down a little in recent years and a family elder says she didn't recognize you because "you used to be such a fat little girl." Hmm.

That said, I had a very nice Thanksgiving. We had a deep-fried turkey (thanks to my cousin Joey), played a few games of euchre, watched some football, and totally avoided politics (thank GOODNESS!). Driving across Ohio with my parents while listening to the Rock*A*Teens was nice. Distorted surf rock is in my blood.

Some other lessons learned: ways of not finishing a paper include sleeping, watching Woody Allen movies, chatting and smoking, reading magazines, listening to Ray Charles records, driving, getting sushi from Giant Eagle, and writing this very entry. So.