Battery Level: Low

It was another 4 a.m. bed time last night, but I must say that it was spent doing homework. The late night, however, forced me to miss my 8:30 class, along with this strep throat or some other disease festering in my throat. In any event, the morning came early, and I jumped out of bed at 9:45 to hop in the shower, hand in a scholarship, and run over to the Chemistry Library for work at 10:00. I succeeded. Work was boring enough, but the day got even better when I realized that this is the last week of classes. My dilemma is that I have no energy to finish what I've started. My half written french paper, my calculus homework, and film research paper all lay still and stacked neatly on my desk. Their cover pages are scowling eyes for my abandonment, and I just stare at them, dispondent for the pressure and hours of work they require. My motivation isn't here, but it will kick in around 8:00. A film screening and a Kappa Sigma meeting should be my jump for the long night ahead. Then, it's my computer, some music, and some ginormous (yes, ginormous) will power that will preoocupy my mind from sleep long enough for me to do my work. Finally, I'll recharge with a weekend full of sleep and relaxation at the beach...hopefully.

Pressure

It's filling, it's stretching, and it's popped. My balloon of life has been destroyed, and I'm left with just myself and the little motivation I have to get things done. As much as I want to deny it, my laziness has been the root of my problems, as attending class and doing final papers are no longer goals. Even updating this blog has become a nuissance: a cursory reading is enough to satify a new post and the fact of momentary change, but it's no resolution for the craving of more. I'm guilty too, and I've let myself down. But, this weekend will no doubt be my redemption. Tomorrow's list includes laundry, french paper, scholarship essays, more french paper, film paper, and math homework. If I screw up this list that is already written out, then the dunce cap and the slime of slug are rightfully mine. But, I think it's time to get in gear. Those cogs in my head are starting to turn, and you can see that I'm in thought. What you don't know is that I'm probably thinking of ways to waste my time. This is my curse, and the impedence to the my goals that rest underdeveloped and underachieved in my backpack or the library. Now, it's time to stretch another balloon and begin to fill it with the work of tomorrow. This one is sure to pop but far greater is the reward: firework confetti to mark the celebration of this semester's end.

Yellow Cabs and White Lights

A cab ride to the Cheesecake Factory seemed regular enough. I overlooked the cab driver, which was my first mistake, and indulged in conversations with my friends. After picking apart each other's personalities like wolves tearing through sheep only to knaw on the bone, we reclined into silence. Then, the cab driver strangely became the topic of conversation. Living in his home of Samalia all his life, this kind, married man left the country due to civil war. As a government official, he fled for his life as the oppressive regime sought to kill any government officials. And when my biggest problem for the day was affording this dinner, a man had fled his country, come to America, established a decent job, and is continuing to support his family, his oldest son 23 and youngest 5. Accomodated to this new culture, the man understands cultural diversity but longs for his return to his country. Of all this, it is great that America can provide opporunities and liberties for this man. But waking up, he's not surrounded by the people, the food, and the quintessential norms, that I have grown to love. He yearn for his country, his home.

I, on the other hand, yearned for clarity tonight. Laying on the grass and looking at the stars, I stared in awe at the work the was before me: the infinite universe and the tiny speck that I was in it. A greater thing is going on here, and I know it. Insofar, that was all clear, but a certain girl roused my emotions once more. A little bit of temptation and a lot of self-control allowed us to manage through the night, but we settled on this one term. If I kiss her at all, then my hair is to become a faux hawk. But in the other event that she kisses me, she can't shower for one day (this girl is a shower maniac). How do you like those terms Lindsay?

Lazy Friday

The end of the school week has come and with it ends all-night research papers, tedious homework assignements, and the obligation to attend class, which most of us have trouble doing anyway. The weather steers the rest of the day, as the light and heat of the day inebriate us from thinking. Laying in the quad or a soft bed seems appropriate, and the fact that you still have homework to do and approaching tests slowly slips away. It's Friday, and there is nothing better to do or to think. Just soak up the day like a dry sponge dropped in a pool and become saturated with lethargy. That's when you know its a good day.

Dooley

It's twenty minutes and counting until this multivariable calculus test. Instead of studying, I'm at the computer in the hall to inform the masses of tradition here at Emory. The skeleton of Dooley has become a coveted emblem of the university, and he is arguably the most important person here. Indeed, Dooley may be dead, but his immortal soul lives in a skeleton costume meandering about campus. Dooley's week is in honor of his legacy, but more importantly, it's a time for Dooley to release mayhem: letting out classes well before their end, playing "The Addam's Family" theme song in the clocktower, and distributing condoms (and t-shirts) among the student body. Dooley was always looking out for the student body. Tonight will end his antics with the annual Dooley's Ball, which he should no doubt be attending. And so to Dooley, I tip my hat and raise my glass. Cheers to the beloved bones of Emory.

The esteemed Dooley and his entourage strolling through campus.
"Presidents may come,
and Presidents may go;
Professors may come,
and professors may go;
Students may come,
and students may go;
But Dooley lives on forever!"

Progress in Procrastination

It's not 5:00 am. I don't have homework to do. And I'm in my dorm room for the night. These are major (I stress major, note the bold) breakthroughs in my life, and I must say I'm quite content. I want to say my sleepless nights and long days of hanging out are done, but this is only my first successful night. I still have plenty of time to screw it up again, namely tomorrow. But with hope, I will look to my health and happiness on this night to remind me its ok to go to bed early, to do homework daily, and to, dare I say, not hang out with friends. Today was my most productive day, perhaps in three months, and I am proud (and a little ashamed) of this.

Ten Things I did today that I have been procrastinating:
10. ate breakfast (what on eeeeaarrrtthhhh is that?)
9. attended class (that means all of them...cough-Jason-cough)
8. wrote my french paper before class
7. visited professor's office (granted I failed the mid-term)
6. completed and mailed a scholarship
5. took a three hour nap (I never nap...usually I pass out while drooling on other people's pillows...sorry K'tie)
4. went to extra-credit seminar for P.E. 101 (score 5 points!) and did french homework at the same time (now if that's not multi-tasking, I don't know what is)
3. blogged
2. held the cutest girl, Lindsay T., in my arms

And the number one thing I have yet to do tonight that I have been procrastinating...
1. a much anticipated, peaceful night of sleep