They say that...

...time flies when you're having fun.
Now fun isn't exactly the word I'd use for the entire past year, but it certainly has gone quickly.
Yes, you guessed it. Or maybe not. But regardless, today marks the first birthday of this very web journal. I'm tired so this won't be long.
A lot has changed in the past year. Most things change so slowly that you don't really notice them. I was talking to my old friend Kim over break. Would I have imagined that this is where I'd be, and that I'd done the things that I have, back when we spent every evening mucking out stalls and carrying water together? No. Not in my wildest dreams. The future rarely turns out how I plan it. And I'm grateful for that.
Thank you to everyone (and I assume if you're reading this you know me in some way) who has been a part of my year. It may not have all been fun, but I'd most certainly say that the good times outweighed the bad.
Here's to the future!

And the moral dear children, those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.

Who knew they talk...

~ Aiden took three rapid steps backwards and ran into a rack full of long dangling brass wind chimes, starting, what seemed to him, to be an absolutely deafening storm of clanging.
The tiny jade dragon, three inches high at the most, hopped off his wooden base and advanced to the edge of the shelf. It stared at Aiden for a moment as if trying to figure out his shock and then its mouth began moving again.
Aiden straightened and stared aghast back at the little thing. The chimes still clanged behind him, his own heart beat in his ears was doing it's level best to rival the actual thunder outside that was continually growing louder, heralding the approaching tempest. It was rather discomfiting to Aiden that, over all of that, he could still hear the voice of the dragon.
He hit the chime rack again when he realized that he was actually hearing the voice in his head.
The talking stopped once more while the dragon paused for another moment, this time with an obviously peeved look on his face.
"Are you listening?" he demanded.
Aiden wasn't sure that he should try to explain that he'd been to surprised to listen to the jade dragon. Instead he just opted to nod dumbly. He knew that in a minute he'd feel embarrassed about being so disconcerted.
And it was with this fact in mind that Aiden took a moment to regain his composure. Drawing a deep and calming breath, he took a step towards the dragon.
"Yes. Yes, I'm ready to listen." ~
~ From my world

The Waiting Room...

...The waiting room is made up of several numbered sections, cordoned off with short walls and glass dividers.
Small groups of people sit as far apart from one another as is physically possible.
Funny how the human race loathes contact but does not want to be alone.
Maybe they're afraid.
It is socially acceptable to bring light reading material.
The lady across from me reads a paperback.
The man next to her works a crossword.
Everyone makes the obligatory light conversation.
Yes, you wait in a waiting room, but it is also a separation room.
Away from the pain. And, if you're practiced enough in repression, away from the worry.

Things that I learned...

...on Valentine's Day:

People are vulgar that day because they are lonely.

An improv scene is neither created or destroyed. It can only be converted to audience energy and vice versa. Or something like that. I'm not really sure of the details.

FunDip is, by its very nature, fun. You can't deny that. It's like a fundamental law of the universe.

Responsible college students, when they have a packet of FunDip in their hands, undergo age regression and become very messy, giggly and immature.

Roses don't do well when exposed to sub-zero conditions.

It is generally acceptable for a woman to hit on her male friend's female significant others. Hitting on your female friend's better half is not necessarily smiled upon.

It is fun to walk with an entourage of 6 men on Valentine's Day. Notably when they are all singing "Where in the World is Carmen San Diego" in perfect harmony.

You get strange looks when you walk with an entourage of 6 men on Valentine's Day. Notably when they are all singing "Where in the World is Carmen San Diego" in perfect harmony.

If you are going to yell something out of the window of a moving car you should keep the phrase short, concise, and use good pronunciation.

I reached a conclusion today...

...Yes, yes I did. I'm sure you want to hear about it.
I've decided that I definitely want to have a mid-life crisis. You see, a woman in mid-life crisis might be expected to get morose and re-evaluate her life choices and relationships and accomplishments and stuff. A man might buy himself a sports car. That's definitely the direction I want to go with this.
"What prompted this conclusion?" You are no doubt asking yourself. Well I'll tell ya. I was staring out of the window and thinking about Stu's deliciously awesome car and that's when it came to me. The idea sprang into my mind fully formed (possibly out of the forehead of Zeus). Much like my funeral plans did that one time I was in the shower.
The things I won't think about when I should be writing a term paper!
So that's the plan people. Mid-life crisis here I come! But first I need to finish that term paper...

~ "I like how you grabbed my butt to get me in position." ~ Peace
~ "I'd grab your butt to get you into position any day, if you know what I mean." ~ Kamikaze