My parents are here! We chatted a while in my room and they finally got
to meet Karen (yes, ReRe they love you). We’re going to dinner at 6:30
but until then I’m free to do as I choose…..although, now that I
think about, I have no idea what that will be. I don’t particularly
want to start homework–even though that would be a good idea
considering how busy I’m going to be this weekend. I could read some
Paradise Lost. That sounds appealing. Or I could watch a
movie….hmmm….balancing the options here….movie!! Glad that’s
decided. I will have plenty of time to read Latin on the way to Chicago
anyway. CAN”T WAIT TO SEE KEANE!! AHHHHHHHH….wow. I just can’t think
about it right now or I’ll get so impatient that I won’t enjoy all the
other fun activities I have planned for this weekend. Dinner tonight,
then partying with Becki and Karen (yah!) singing tomorrow with choir
for Homecoming, then the game, then more parties….woohoo. I’m going
to have funsies!!

I got TWO (not just one, but, yes folks, two) letters in the mail
today! They were, of course, from the same person, but that fact is
irrelevant. Quantity not quality, right? or something like
that….probably the opposite actually….nonetheless, I got mail. That
is the point. Included in which were 3 (count ’em) cd’s (listening to
one right now—I love you, Radha!!!). It’s been such a busy week but
this weekend is going to be the best busy of all. My parents are coming
tomorrow! YAY! And Becki is coming too! What a thrill. So Saturday is
Homecoming and then….(this is the best of all, kids) I’m going to see
KEANE! Wow….I think I might implode with excitement. I hope not,
though, because I really would like to see the show before I
explode…. or implode. I have done all of my homework except for
writing up a thesis for my English paper. It’s so hard to choose a
topic for yourself……oh, the simple days of high school when paper
topics were in lists…..but who am I kidding? I WILL think of a paper
topic. Eventually….by tomorrow. How oxymoronic. Got tons more stuff
at the Rummage sale today. Lots of shirts for Finn….I don’t quite
know why except that I love to shop for other people. I also got a
shirt for PeggyDee (send it home with Momma and Daddy) and a shirt for
Giles. Although the shirt for Giles could be for me as well….it’s
interchangeable. But she’ll probably end up with it. Anywho, I finally
got a job! Meredith Marquelle (my college counseler as a prospective)
enlisted my aid in designing  a page for the schedule of events
for this fall’s parents’ weekend. Exciting, non? I agree. Especially
since it has to do with art! I’m already starting my career as an
artist! So, I’ve been working on that this evening—but now I should
probably go write a thesis.

Do you ever get the feeling that life is just not real enough? Like
we’re floating along, going through the motions but not really
experiencing what we do. I think that may be why I enjoy literature so
much–it forces you to confront the universal issues of human
existence. And yet at the other end of the spectrum is the aesthetic
appeal of art–it almost takes what we know and see in literature and
makes it beautiful whether it really is or not. Grotesque battle
scenes, murder and death, even the crucifixion of Christ, have been
depicted and, as such, beatified simply by the nature of good art. What
defines good art is a completely separate issue…  I haven’t read
any really good books lately (aside from the Bible) and I’m feeling
bereft without the intensity of literary study that I experienced in my
last two years of high school. Anybody got suggestions for a good read?

I have no cool stories….no funny jokes…pretty much no life at all
at this point. Still working on that. For heaven’s sake, what does a
girl have to do to make friends?  Alas,
the recessive social butterfly gene has skipped me completely. But hey,
who’s complaining? I suppose a reclusive life of hermitage (save the
token 50-odd cats) would not be so bad…..  I kid you not, at
this point, the odds are looking pretty good for it. At least I have
Karen….heh. Oh, but here’s some good news. Becki is coming to
Hillsdale this weekend! And that reminds me….I’m going to see KEANE
on SUNDAY! Wow….life is good again. Simple things.
That will keep me happy for the next hour. I’ll have to think of it
again…..I’ll write myself a reminder note. Good thinking. Speaking of
thinking, Karen has found me out. I have an automated voice response
system. Truly. It’s like when someone is talking to you and you’re
totally zoned out and thinking about something completely unrelated but
you hear the other person’s voice droning on and on….. You
automatically answer to what they say without even thinking about it.
(e.g.: Karen: Hey Margaret, you remember that one time when…and then I….oh and you were like…..blahblahblahblah……
Margaret (staring off into space……..deeply contemplating the
immensely exciting progress of a black, venomous Hillsdale squirrel as
it lopes across the lawn): I dunno
Karen: Exactly. You’re so insightful, Margaret!)
Of course, the automated voice response system has a lot to do with how
much attention the other person is actually paying to what you are
really saying.

Got a new CD in the mail today: Doves: The Last Broadcast! Listening to
it right now and enjoying….I have so much to do today, though. At
11:00 is my first voice lesson (woo!) and then 1:00 is Latin. I have an
interview for a job at 4:30 but the CCA lecture starts at 4:00! I think
I’ll just sign in  and leave early from the lecture, because I
certainly do not want to be late for my interview. It’s for a job on
the Hillsdale Call team–calling prospectives and answering questions,
etc. and I need it badly. The lecture last night was good, but ran a
little over time with questions and all. The speaker was also a but
hard to hear because Karen and I had seats way, way over on the far
left side of the auditorium. We got there at 10 till and it was packed!
I’ll definitely be there earlier this afternoon. There’s also a meeting
of Alpha Rho Tau (the art honorary) at 9:30 tonight that I’m planning
on going to. So busy…

First entry! Yay….can’t think of anything to say. Karen found me a cool new shirt in the swap-box. That’s exciting. Also, I have to go to the first CCA lecture this evening at 8. Then probably a movie or something. Already read my Latin but I should probably do it again…sometime…..listening  to Keane right now. I can’t express how excited I am to be seeing them next weekend. Wow….I think I’ll dwell on that for a bit.