I am coming home tomorrow, even though I only have four days of classes left. I "have to take the Basic Skills Test in Wheaton," and that will take me two full days.

I haven't been home this semester as much as I thought I would be. It's been two weeks since the last time I was home, and before that I was at school for three solid weeks. Despite only taking 14 hours and not having marching band, I've been really busy.

I guess I've been busy with extra-curriculars. Campus Veg Society and Studens for Economic Justice, mostly, both of which are YMCA programs. I'm on the student board of the YMCA now, I guess because they thought that since I was already spending so much time there it would be appropriate to spend even more time there.

I'm not even sure how much time I'll be able to devote to that stuff next semester. I'll be taking 18 hours, four hours of which is an English class which promises to have lots of reading, and one hour of which is Marching Illini (which is actually more like 9hrs/week plus gamedays). I'm worried I'll go a little crazy.

I'll have a car on campus next year, which will be nice. I won't have to waste so much time waiting for buses or trains. And I can go home more frequently, even if I won't be able to stay for entire weekends.

And I guess I can go to Savoy if the mood ever strikes me.

posted at 3:16 PM by Alison

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It seems like a lot of people are freaked out about summer coming, myself among them.

I've only got six days of classes left before finals, and I'm coming home for finals week and then coming back for commencement because my band is playing a bunch of British marches and Pomp+Circumstance.

My "facilitator" at the counceling center finally returned my e-mail, but all she said was that whatever concerns I have I should bring them up in group. So I went over her head and made an appointment at the University mental health clinic. "The group" doesn't have the authority to write prescriptions, unfortunately.

But my appointment isn't until a week from today, which is my last day of classes. I'm worried that if we don't work anything out, I'll be SOL for the summer, and I know that will be rough.

I'm really grateful that these things are so cheap and easily available through the University. If I weren't here, I don't think I would know where to go or who to talk to.

posted at 8:19 AM by Alison

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I want to try to blog everyday again, like I did at the beginning of the school year.

I'm very frustrated over my living arrangements for next year.

I don't want to live in Busey-Evans again next year. I've lived here for a year already and I pretty much don't know anybody but my own roommate. I know that a lot of this is my own fault, but I think it'll be easier for me to meet people if I can live in Allen . The idea behind this place is that they're trying to create the feeling of a liberal arts college within the larger University. They have a really strong sense of community there. I really want that.

But I didn't decide that I wanted to move there until after the deadline for that sort of thing had passed, and now I'm wrangling with the Housing Dept. to get them to consider my application for this thing. I had been waiting for the past two months for housing to get back to me, only to discover that they gave me bad information and if I had talked to someone else instead of waiting for them I might have had a much better chance of getting in.

Oh, beurocracy.

I'm hopeful, though. I've finally gotten in touch with the head honcho at Allen and while he doesn't sound too excited about accepting a late application, I think he might do it anyway.

We'll see.

posted at 12:36 PM by Alison

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I spend the weekend protesting the circus that came to Assembly Hall.

I've decided I don't care much for protesting.

You get verbally abused, for one thing.

And you waste your energy trying to win over people who will never agree with you anyway. You don't actually get any real information across - just slogans that are short enough to write on a sign. It's generally pretty pointless.

Next semester, I want to do a vegetarian forum at Allen Hall. We can have speakers, and there can be a real exchange of practical information and substantial ideas. And if we do it in Allen Hall (the liberal dorm), we can reach people who might actually be affected by it and care, instead of people who will flip us off as they rev the engines of their F150s.

posted at 3:13 PM by Alison

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A little boy in lederhosen sings "The Magic Flute."

And is actually pretty good at it!

posted at 4:08 PM by Alison

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This is mezmerizing.

I am on a cute animal kick right now. Can you tell?

posted at 5:07 PM by Alison

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A parrot recites the Qur'an.

posted at 10:39 AM by Alison

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Isn't this the cutest fucking thing you have ever seen?

posted at 3:29 PM by Alison

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I was recently filled with love for all mankind, and it made me want to throw a party for all the Oswegoans coming home (the cool ones).








If you are coming home this summer, and you are from Oswego, tell me when your summer break starts. I will take that into account when planning my party.

posted at 4:50 PM by Alison

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