Dad,

This is an unprecedentedly prolific period for emails from me! Two in as many days! That may never happen again. :)

How are things? Things are good for me. Today I got all sorts of fun study abroad stuff in the mail - more forms to fill out and checks to mail! - and I'm so excited about all of that. Also, about an hour ago I took a U.S. Constitution exam (actually, i did NOT take it; I left it in the room!) which I think I did excellently on, and I'm equally excited about that!

I also wanted to let you know - I paid $500 on my credit card, and $100 on the car payment. After everything is taken care of - plane tickets bought, once I have a reasonable budget for next semester - I may be able to pay more on the credit card. I hope so.

Per your request, some Christmas shopping ideas...

Clothes - first of all, main thing, it is important to me that all my clothes are completely natural or wo/man made - ie no wool or anything. of course, when i went through my wardrobe and picked out all the wool things to give to goodwill, there weren't very many anyway. but i just wanted to mention it because it is important to me.

I'm pretty good on jeans right now but I could probably do with a pair of khakis or grey pants or black pants. I still like a bit of a flare at the ankle. Probably size 6.

Most other clothes small or medium - I tend to like sweaters bigger, other shirts smaller...

This is really specific and silly, but if anything like this should present itself, I want it! You know, don't nobody knock themselves out looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but if one should happen to turn up... I really want a long (mid-thigh) knit cardigan, "form-fitting," the kind of thing that would look cute with a collared shirt under it, in preferably burgundy or black.

Aside from that, I like cardigans in general -- ooh, if anyone makes cardigans with cursive L's on them, like Laverne had! haha, those rule.

Also, maybe a collared shirt or two, especially a plain white one, I actually don't have any!

Sweaters, I always love sweaters - I like v-necks and boat necks and pretty much all necks really, but scratch the turtleneck kinds, because they are very scratchy.

(Can you tell, I'm in a bit of a goofy mood.)

Aside from clothes, what I really want is books. I love books. If there are any used bookstores around you - I love used books! books rule. Haha.. well in particular I really want to build up my collection of feminist theory/gender studies books. Most places like borders have sections labelled 'gender studies.' pretty much any book in that section would rock my socks, proverbially speaking. but no need to go to borders, i love used books! books books books...

Some authors in particular i'm interested in:

Virginia Woolf - I already have Mrs. Dalloway, but everything else goes on the list, I adore her.
Simone de Beauvoir - I already have the Second Sex, but likewise, much adoration.
E.M. Forster - Anything aside from Maurice and Howards End
Julia Kristeva, Luce Irigary, Helene Cixous - collectively sometimes known as the French feminists
Gilbert and Gubar - the Madwoman in the Attic
Jean-Paul Sartre
Audre Lorde
Adrienne Rich

Basically anything dealing with feminism, feminist theory, existentialism, postmodernism or literary theory will soooo appeal to me. You can't possibly go wrong. I love books.

Oh, and if you happen upon a good used bookstore, or a library book sale, or any place that is selling "The Classics" for something like 3 for a dollar in paperback editions? Anything and everything would be most welcomed and beloved. All books are good. :)

Hmm... what else... well I'll always have use for blank cds. And oh, anything that seems like it might come in handy for a semester in Europe - bearing in mind of course I have no choice but to travel light. And anything else... I leave up to your collective discretion.

Hope that helps you guys a little!

Hope everything is coming up roses!

Talk to you soon and love you both!