Chris was a strange fellow. Nice enough, a little shy. He should have realized his obsessive love for Jon would never come to fruition. In six years, Chris would be dead, and Jon be preparing to graduate from Annapolis Naval Academy and preparing to ship out to the Middle East.

All the lights in my home are flickering. I awoke to the sound of a loud pop and toasted plastic. Jill and I are two defunct surge protectors richer. I wish I knew enough about anything to determine if this is a fire hazard or just annoying. I live in an old house. Maybe if I dried off the power lines in the backyard things would be better. Does anyone have a metal ladder I can borrow? Wow. Things keep getting really bright and then I hear a buzzing sound. I hope the microwave/television/alarm clock/fridge/real doll don't explode.

Even Manor House had consistent electricity. I am desperate to go abroad again. Eight months and counting, unless I die in an electrical fire first.

The mice have returned. Maybe they're chewing on the wires.

Update! I just called the landlady. She says it's happening a lot of places. Now do I call Minnesota Power, or wait for something exciting to happen? Decisions!

My microwave says this is the end.

The only difference between today and last week are a few thousand confused looking 18 year olds. If the tables set up for lost freshmen stick around, I am going to ask some one to point me in the direction of Jesus.

I had to take my “first day o' school” picture with my camera phone. Mommy?

I worked three hours (which included sitting in on a staff meeting at the Tweed. the real world looks interesting from here.), went to graphic design II for twenty minutes (joy), loitered in the coffee shop, worked for an hour at the Tweed, had a meeting about my TA-ness, and then had Motion Graphics for a half of an hour. The coffee shop had a story in the UMD Statesman about having more vegetarian options. I looked in the case and everything had ham except for three small, mysterious items labeled “fling.” Apparently fling means cranberry loaf, sprouts, and cheese. Tomorrow I shall try the toss.

I am excited to put graphics into motion, but graphic design II feels silly since I do so much design stuff for work already. And my jobs don't require 80 business card size thumbnails evoking words like “banality.” Maybe that's more corporate.

I will be the teaching assistant for Art Today which has 320 students. Eesh.

Overheard in Duluth:
“Did you hear about xxx? Yeah, his MySpace says something about falling off a ladder.”
-The Coffee Shop

“All Game? It's like a poor man's Game Stop, an overpriced poor man's Game Stop.”
-The Bus

“Try and be on time next time.”
-Professor to me, walking into class at 11:55 (computers in the room), 11:57 (clock on the wall), or 11:59 (my cell phone), depending on which clock you use

“NICE SWEATER!”
-Some dude yelling at me from a car