For here it is, a mountain of love
All covered in death and snow
How close they are, the gates of hell
Where you and I must go

*

Mostly for my own reference, but also for your enjoyment!

Okay. I need to know two things:

1) When everyone's going to be around that one hellish weekend of the 20th and when.  This means you, Katie and Jen.  I need to know when/where you're around that weekend.  Also, this means that Aubrey, you absolutely need to tell me where you'll be before the 17th so I can call my parents and get them to let me come stay with you and let me leave the afternoon of the 19th instead of the 20th.  And I can take care of the rest of the possible expenses, I think.

2) How far are Buffalo and Ancramdale from the city?  Or even Lowell, MA?  Seriously, this is a life or death matter.

Something came up.  Because I was smart enough to get curious.  And... I may have the best idea ever.

If I can just get those two things.

EDIT: And oh my god there might be TWO great ideas.  *DIES* August 14th.  August 14th is the date that's for sure.  and maybe that one weekend will work too.

For you, Jen, the 17th looks like a good day. *Grins* I'll explain later.

Ugh.

I think I'm sick.

And I can't manage to wake up with enough time to actually do my homework.  Meaning I'm behind.  As usual.  Fuck.

And I haven't written/rped in a week.

And I have no breakfast.  meaning I have to eat icky sugar stuff so I can actually take my pill and not get nauseous.

Hearing fireworks from your window and not watching them is vaguely depressing.  But I couldn't go. Too exhausted.

and I slept.  and I'm still tired.  dunno why.

ugh i hate data analysis

EDIT: i love when in rome. it's so angry.

Oh lord.

I'm so behind in everything it's not funny.  Not in the least.  Just... urgh.  I'll... try to take care of it tonight, I guess... *Head? Desk*  I need to make myself write.

I also need to get myself this awesome kickass bag in the Columbia book store, assuming it can fit my laptop and notebooks. Because I really don't want to use my messenger bag which kinda sucks for every day use really, plus it's ugly, and I need a proper side-bag thing.  And my purse isn't big enough for a notebook or my laptop.

Okay.

Let's start at the very beginning.

...Oh dear god in heaven.  When my head starts playing Sound of Music I have had way too little sleep.

EDIT: It occurs to me I should LJcut this, but I'm too lazy--if anyone would like it, though, just ask and you will receive.

So there's no Katiefriend here, I think--but Emily is awesome.  But I'm getting out of order.  So... we got here really early, and I was all checked in like two hours early.  And I found out my RA, Kensi--awesome cute girl--goes to AU.  So as soon as my parents were gone and I could explain... I asked her if she happened to know a girl named Jen from Boston.  And Kensi (who's real name is Kensington, this cracked me up 'cause it made me think of Barmy Fotheringay-Phipps) was just like "...Bzuh?  You mean Jen?!  She was my RA!"  Me: "...WHA?! *Minisquee!*"

So Kensi's a little consternated and has no idea how this happened, is a little scared of me I think, and is all around awesome.  Although I still know more about the city and where everything is than she does.

Then one of the girls in my suite is in my physics class.  Girl from France, actually.  Victoire.  She's nice enough. *Shrug*

So... basically I was totally disillusioned with my suite early on.  Lotsa popular girl types here.  Urgh.  Not in my physics class--just one who makes me completely jealous. *Sigh*

Okay.  So... first day, nothing really happened.  Except that we talked about the rules, and the one rule missing is any rule about guys in your room/sex.  Let me rephrase that.  When Rachel (girl in my suite) came in, she was like "Uh... Kensi told me there were condoms in the cupboard..."  And we were all like "WHA?!" And went to look.  And it was funny because the girls were like "What, there's an extra-large size?" And... yeah.  Uh. It was weird and awkward.  But basically? The camp has rules about dangerous substances--drugs, alcohol--but not... certain things.  Not cigarettes, 'cause they're legal and there's nothing they can really do.  And not sex.  Because 500 17/18 year old boys and girls? In New York City?  ....Yeah.  Do the math. So they're just making sure we've got protection.

Kinda hilarious.

Oh, met this guy Daniel--from the poetry class, I think--and... he's... not bad?  But a little weird and self-centered and stupid. And not at all cute. But he's been hitting on me. Luckily I know how to avoid him. *Beam*

So... went to bed.  Had to get up at six fucking o clock the first day for breakfast at 715.  Horrible.  Had my first class.... and... uh... I may be the smartest/most able person in there.  There's one exception, this Asian boy (typical), but... I sitll kind of beat out the rest of them.  Particularly at math and stuff.  Yeah.  My prof is amazing--and he uses pretty colours on the board. It made me happy. He moves pretty fast, though.

So, first class--went out and bought note book, pad of paper, and lab book in the break, and then had first lab.  It was okay--a little boring--and we were the last to finish, so I got to chat with him. The fact that I read the summer books he recommended really impressed him. *Beamity*

So... then I hung around doing nothing, then went to dinner.  Ran into Daniel--wish I hadn't now--and... then when he left I was sitting quietly by myself.  And this tall guy I didn't recognize goes "Hey, d'you mind if I sit here?" Me: "...Uh, no, not at all! *Cheery peppy girl*"

So.  Alex is... over six three now.  Still growing, damn him.  Kinda cute, really funny and smart.  Liberal, and from California.  And a fantastic guitarist.  He has a Stradicaster.  A Stradicaster.  And a completely personalized... dammit, I don't remember exactly what it's called, but it's custom made and stuff. And acoustics and... gah.  And he's in my physics class. And... we started chatting, and argued about politics and capitalism, and then talked about anything and everything.  (If anyone has any music by Muse, give it to me.)  And... this was like... for two hours.  Literally.  Or more.  We went in at 10pm.  And sat out on the steps and chatted in the mean time.  And... I wish I knew how to make something of this, but I don't and I'm really scared that he's A) kinda scared of me now or B) completely uninterested, despite the fact that I really am prettier than this other girl or C) just... not interested, and it seemed like it.  I mean... yeah.  And I don't want to come on too strong, but... I want to hang out with him anyway, just 'cause he's an awesome guy and I like my guy friends.

*Sigh* Ugh.  Complicated life.

Oh, also, had a chat with Rita and Christiane from my suite.  Rita's Asian and in the chem class--she's awesome.  I thought Christiane would be boring, she seems like your average prep popular girl, but... she's actually really cool in many ways.  And really sarcastic and funny.  We had a long talk. It was fun.

So then yesterday I went and did my homework at the last minute, except the graph which was good 'cause the prof had gotten the equation wrong anyway.  And then I had class again, it was mostly the same (so fun but boring subject wise).  And I sat next to Emily and Jocelyn on her other side, and neither of them know any calculus.  End result? I've started tutoring them.  Victoire as necessary, too.  Literally, I'm trying to teach them all of calculus in a couple days.  Chatted with Alex a little--he did come up and have a short chat with me for no reason that... was really comforting, and... *Sigh* I dunno. It's confusing.  Anyway, he also was talking to this other girl who... dresses in a short skirt and y'know, tank tops, and has something of a figure unlike me, and so... I'm panicky about that, 'cause he's honest enough that I know he'd notice.  Silly boy.  (Especially since quite frankly I think I am prettier. Certainly I have better hair. *Sulk* Yes, I've been worrying about this. When you have a Californian rock star possibly noticing you and convinced you're the smartest person in the world, you notice these things a little.)

So... yeah.  Second lab, even more boring than the first--and my TA, despite being a string theory student and a student of Brian Greene's was so boring it was painful.  *Sigh* Really too bad.

So we were done like an hour early, I went and hung around, talked to Alex very briefly... think I screwed it up, but then he was alone at dinner and I wished I could go over, but then I was talking to Emily.  She's awesome too--and put up with my ramblings about writing and fantasy and magic and stuff.  *Sighs* So I have to post, I really do (dammit, don't want to now...)

Anyway.  So then last night.  *Giggles* Emily went back to her room with about five minutes to spare before curfew, and so I was like "Okay, bed now, I think..." and then went to the bathroom and saw the note on the mirror about a suite meeting. Said meeting went on until like 1:30 AM.  It was surprisingly fun.  Kensi really wins at life.  There was a cockroach in the kitchen, so poor Kensi couldn't sleep with it and sat there for like an hour plus waiting for the damn thing to come back out so she could kill it.  She finally did.  Hee. The celebration was hilarious.  And then we talked--we had to have the awkward sex talk about the condoms, and we teased her about her not-really-boyfriend (guy who clearly likes her, but he's not her type).  And talked about boys and the cute RAs.  And I sat around and actually practiced my mandolin.  I can actually almost play the chords to Into the West now (maybe I can perform it...) and I can almost play House Carpenter! *Beams!* I'm gonna have to either find a guitarist to play with me, or rework the guitar part for mandolin, though, if I want to perform that here.  (I'm planning for Open Mic night, as you can see.)

So... that's my life at the moment.

*Deep breath*

I'm going down to Greenwich Village this morning to get to a pastry shop, and a chocolate shop, maybe take a poke around--then back up to Columbus Circle and Whole Foods for milk and other such necessities of life.  And then wandering around New York--maybe posting if I bring my laptop and grab wireless or go back to my room. *Sighs*

Yeah.  Fireworks tonight in Riverside Park.  I dunno if I really want to go, but I should.  And Alex may be there.  Maybe I can talk to him about going to see Ratatouille this weekend.

Ow.

My fingers had damn well better get callouses soon. Otherwise I'll be in pain for months.

For those of you who don't know this, I have a mandolin. A style, so technically not what I'd want for bluegrass--it's the teardrop shape, whereas the F style has the curlycue at the top and is a little thinner and has a bit of extra room for higher frets on the E string.

But still. I gots a mandoln.

And Chris Thile is teaching me how to play. ...Okay, so it's via a DVD, but still, he's teaching me how to play.

Heeeeeeeee.

This DVD is old. NC's first CD hadn't been out yet, 'cause he's talking about how Ode to a Butterfly "will be on the forthcoming Nickel Creek CD."

But yersh. I have a mandolin, a teaching DVD, a chord book, and three books of music.  After I've practiced some, I'll let you know how I'm coming skillwise. 'Cause believe me, I have a strange set of bad habits and good instincts.

I win at life.

That is all.

...I probably won't win at playing, having callouses, or chords.

But I still win at life.

EDIT: Make that I psychically kick life's sorry ass. *Beamity*

Don't ask. Really.

*Bounds off to leeaaarn things....*

Muahahaha. Mine is an evil laugh.

...Yup, I just lost my mind. Just try to make me take it back!

EDIT II: ...Whoever screwed with A Prairie Home Companion today? You're not funny.

By this I mean you are, and I love you, but stop displaying that you're the Powers That Be.

Iwantamandobirdnownotthaticouldplayitnvm

So I still win at life. ...Though seemingly now I have been reminded that my ass is kicked by others. Damn you, sunshine. *Sticks tongue out*

...Please, if you don't get this, don't try to. Just ignore my insanity.

It is official.

I am a bloody lunatic.

I wrote my final English paper, which is 25% of my grade for the semester, in two and a half hours. After staying up all night to read P&P fanfic (shut up, I like it).

I'm stark raving mad.

I think I may grab a tad of food, then get down to business on some wikipages I have to do. *Bright smile* And PBs to find... oh yes, the fun.

Also, I totally get a mandolin for my end-of-year gift. With full permission to take it to Columbia, being encouraged to sit outside in the sun and teach myself to play.

Life is good. At least until I have to start staying up every night for a week.

Admittedly, I'm also high on both lack of sleep and medication. And I mean it--high. Antidepressants are damned fun.

Oh my god, I got sleep.

Yey.

Also, I missed all my morning classes.

Yey.

...This is the second time this has happened. I think this is a bad thing.... oh well.

Also, I'm almost caught up in computer. Doubleyey.

Now, to talk mum into a mandolin...

EDIT: Whoa, the article on Ralph Ellison I'm using is called "Bright Lights, Big Speeches." *Squees!* Musical reference! (See, this is proof that the Powers That Be loves me. Since it's a couple weeks old, so it's not even affected by the Powers That Be sitting catatonically in the corner.)

EDIT II: Doubting Thomas and Why Should the Fire Die? are unfortunately accurate songs to describe said Powers That Be's mood at the moment. ...Maybe he's feeling better, if iSpike is being weirdish. ...So is Somebody More Like You.

Oh, nevermind, he's not. Why? Just about every gorram Nickel Creek song is screwed with. So. I'm just being hopeful. O well.

Dear United States Postal Service,

I LOVE YOU. WHAT DO I GET YOU FOR CHRISTMAS?! YOU WERE TWO TO FOUR DAYS EARLY, AND YOU ARE MY NEW BEST FRIEND!!!! *LOVES!!!!!*

~~ Lee-lee

*

Dear Parents,

You know you want to spend the money on a cheap instrument and some how-to books/DVD.

You know you want to.

~~ Lee-lee, your one and only and very dearest child

*

Dear Nickel Creek,

DON'T BREAK UP!! OR GET BACK TOGETHER!!! YOU ARE MY LIFE!!!

...ESPECIALLY CHRIS THILE!!!

~~ Lee-lee the irrepressible fangirl

*

Dear world,

Since I forgot to mention this, as I was in my "I hate the world and I refuse to speak to anyone this month" stage for a while there...

I'm spending seven weeks at Columbia this summer.

With my instrument, dammit. I don't care if I have to never buy a book for the rest of the year. I will have my instrument!

~~ With much love, Lee-lee the determined