We tried to go to the annual midnight breakfast. In theory, it's one of the nicer things this campus does for its students. In practice... Okay, let's face it. Truth is, I am militantly antisocial. And boys with recorders (yes, the faux woodwind instrument) and girls with screechy voices... Let me just say, I'm proud of myself that I stuck it out in that line as long as I did.

So, somewhat reluctantly, Lani, Josh and I took off for an hour's round-trip journey to Hortons. It's finals, it was late, Josh wasn't in the mood at all.. But armed with Alanis, we went forth.

Could we have resisted? It became another of those fantastic, stress-free, convivial moments out of time we know so well and have experienced only too infrequently this arduous semester.

So in the midst of all the scream-singing, missed notes, butchered lyrics, there was this wonderfulness that I could never relate to you...

"All I Really Want" We scream in assent: All I really want is a soulmate; someone else to catch this drift. All I need now is intellectual intercourse.

"You Oughta Know" Lani squeaked...

"Perfect" Josh: Can we skip this one, guys? It's kinda...

"Hand in My Pocket" Which we decided is undoubtedly both the anthem of our generation and perhaps the one song that will be pertinent our whole lives, but which we can only remember the lyrics to a beat after they are sung or by process of elimination.

"Right Through You" Sweet back lollipop!

"Forgiven" Remembering the drive back from Columbus, when we literally screamed ourselves hoarse.

"You Learn" Josh: Do you mind if we skip this one, guys? It's kinda...

"Head Over Feet" Remembering the guys we once dedicated this to, and the ones we pointedly did not.

"Mary Jane" The fact that it's in 6/8 for some reason reminded me of the fact that I once had the sheet music to this album. Which reminded me of missing the clarinet.

"Ironic" Isn't it? No. "And yeah I really do think." Like the 'tude! I used to hate O. Henry because he used the word "countenance" too much.

"Not the Doctor" Will always remind us all too strongly of a certain singular individual. The stomper. Let's just say the first verse is Lani's and the second mine. Girls Bleed!

"Wake Up" The song worth sitting in the parking lot for. And without a doubt the song I sound best singing along to. I had to say.

All of which says absolutely nothing about how amazing it is jetting off with those two and spending all but our last $.05 on food we don't need. I agree with Josh. It is only moments like these when I feel like I'm truly in college.

Not that I could forget that fact this week -- finals week. Yes, last week killed me; that's why I hadn't updated in a week. This week will be worse; that's why I won't update in another again. Here's the load: 12-15 page paper on the "fascinating but frightening" Margaret Sanger, 8-10 page Sex & Power final paper, 6ish page Renaissance Drama final paper, zoology lab practical, 2 page animal care paper, zoology lab report, history final, Constitution final. And I'm too numb to be anxious.

The semester will soon be over. I'll soon be spending my days completing mystery shopping jobs, selling all but my soul on ebay, learning Dutch, knitting my Ravenclaw scarf, making holiday presents and reading the million and a half books I've been meaning to for months. Actually, when I put it that way, the break doesn't sound so bad. If I can't get a job, I will be more than occupied. I just hope the mystery shopping, ebay, and hopefully babysitting gigs will earn enough for subsistence living in the Netherlands.

So I want the semester to be over but I really don't want to leave Marietta but I don't think home's going to be excruciating but I know it will be within two weeks. That old chestnut.

One final thing: anyone who was able to see Angels in America tonight can blow me. I saw the last 10 seconds of a preview and almost started bawling. I have an intense need to see this film. But alas. Not until January 3 for me.

Well. Wish me luck on the week from hell. If I can't bother to be concerned, maybe one of you can lend me some extra?

In any case, if I don't update sooner -- and if I know what's good for me I won't -- I'll be home by Saturday, ready to regale you with my winter break exploits. Oh yeah.

We were the great believers that dreams came with stars, and freedom just depended on the car.
Josh Joplin Group, which has defined my day. Oh, they ought to define more days.