Holy shit.  I can barely comprehend what has happened in the last few weeks.  I'm still not quite sure how it all got done, how everything seemed to magically fall into place at the very last second...in all honesty I am surprised a little every semester when everything just works out.  This semester, however, it was nothing short of miraculous, given the amount of work that had to get done.  During finals week, I slept 2 hours per night for 4 consecutive nights, then finally had to sleep for something like 18 hours (including over an hour on a couch in the Atrium lobby) on the last day.  But now, it's over, and I have received a very fancy-looking, very empty folder that I am supposed to pretend had my diploma inside.  No matter, at the end of the summer I will have it, and my mom will put it in an expensive frame next to my senior picture and my Eagle Scout certificate - a small monument of pride in a house that my parents will leave in another year or two...ah, the times they are a'changin'...

   I heard some interesting news today...my neighbor Chuck from across the street; the nice older guy who two years ago lost his wife to cancer and was in a debilitating car crash - in the same month - is getting re-married in June.  He was introduced to a nice lady who likes my dog.  My parents have been telling me that for the last couple of months he's been gone all the time, pulling into his driveway at 11 or 12 when he comes home from going out with her, like a high school kid.  Now he sold his house, and he's on his way out.  I'm a little sad that I'll no longer come home to him sitting in a lawn chair out front of his garage, just waiting to make conversation with passersby.  But then, he's moving on to new things, starting over in his 70's.  It really is never too late...congrats, Chuck.

   As for me, I'm moving on to what's next; I'm still working on the medical forms for Peace Corps, and I'll find out in a few more months whether that's the way I want to go.  In the meantime, I'm focusing on my playing, considering applying for grad schools next spring, and holding down various jobs in the meantime. I probably should've been doing some work week, but I didn't.  My lady friend came back from a month abroad, and quality time with her offered a much-needed and hard-earned respite from the rigors of the last big push.  The week was full of lazy afternoons, cooking, walking, and chattering about all sorts of things, including all things music.  I finally feel like I have someone I can really talk to about music who can contribute to the conversation and even whoop my ass in a debate.  Intriguing.

   The rest of the summer is looking up.   I'm going to be doing some interactivity research over the summer and picking up a couple of classes that I should've had done already...but don't.  No matter.  Since Chris got a sweet ass job at RadioNow - which is really impressive, kudos again, St. Christopher - there will certainly be plenty of weekends in Indy.  Trips to Cedar Point, the Dunes, and possibly New Mexico (for a pro audition) all on the dockett.  I'd like to do the Ireland thing and meet Johnny and Swampy, but I'm afraid I just don't have $1000 (minimum) handy.  I'm home now for Mommy's day, and I'd like to try and be home more than I have recently.  This is the first time I've been here since Christmas, and I just realized how long ago that was.  So there it is...stay fly