I talked through my presentation again and increased my time by twenty minutes. I don't know how people do this.

I'm going to eat a Fudge Round and watch Psych.

______ Porn isn't just us, right?

I just got de-friend (oh whatEVER) by a guy I haven't seen since High School because I used the expression "nerd porn" to describe his glee at jerry-rigging an internet connection in a remote locale.

Other People use Kitchen Porn and Punctuation Porn, etc., right? And even if they don't the construct shouldn't actually be confusing, should it?

(Actually, the problem may have been my use of the "N" word and not the "P" word. Dude, embrace it, you won. )

I think my mom has used the words 'kitchen porn'.

you are almost there, P-C

Aims, I agree with the people saying that an A is practically impossible to get on some courses. Our grading system's a bit different - they avoid using letters to persuade students that the equivalent of a B is a really good thing. Many of us still want a distinction more than life itself*. By the way, I don't know what stage of college you're at, but I've taught courses that are the equivalent of first year college English Lit, and would be happy to help if I can.

Beth, I hope the earthquake wasn't too terrifying. I can't imagine living in an earthquake area. Must be freaky.

______ Porn isn't just us, right?

I've encountered the phrase a lot. As for 'nerd' being the problem, aren't people supposed to embrace these sides of themselves post-high school? I love being a sociology nerd and a cult TV geek.

*If I don't get a distinction on my dissertation, I will be despondent. So far, what I'm writing is definitely not distinction standard. Blah.

And I was going to ask Aims a question - what would you say to a student of yours about a B?

I asked something similar--what do you want Em to believe about getting a B? She will pick up your feelings now and internalize them, so really think about that, too.

I don't know--I stopped worrying so much about the letter grade once I was in college. It was so much harder to get a B that I really valued them when they came. An A- was gravy.

Aims, you do know what they call the student who graduated LAST at Medical School, right? DOCTOR! Doesn't matter what the grades are, just matters that you LEARNED things, and pass the class, and get the parchment.

B is a very good grade. And Buffistas aren't Yetis.

So. I'll be a settler for the next few years of my life. And I already got mocked about it by a friend, but I don't think she knows how bad I feel about it.

But this move better be EXCELLENT for my family, because I'm so tired of fighting.

Oh, Shir. How much of a friend can this person be, if you don't feel close enough to tell her how you feel - or is there simply no way to do that which is not disloyal to your parents? I know you this has been your safe place to vent your thoughts and feelings, but are you able to let your true feelings on the matter show at all to the people around you?

I don't know about not feeling close enough to her, Andi. In most friendships here we try not to bring the political questions, since it's a delicate matter and can be a deal breaker, so to speak. It usually gets left behind until something too big is happening which can't be ignored on daily talks. But no one will start a conversation with "what a a-hole X or Y is" (X/Y being a political figure) without knowing the other's agenda first.

I don't know how to answer the last part of your question. My parents know how I feel about this and how hard this is for me. But I know that this is the better option for us as a family. I let most people around me know how I feel, but I keep it on a low flame - most of my friends, again, since politics is a delicate subject here - knows I'm not too happy about it, but they don't know just how much.

This whole summer was a long chain of struggles, and I lost most of them. I just want to rest now.

Literature review (chapter 2 of the dissertation) now at 1700 words. Aiming to get to somewhere between 2500 and 3000. Suddenly quite pleased with my progress and finding the point of all that pre-writing reading and planning. Hurrah.

Shir, continuing best wishes for your move. When do you actually relocate? I hope it's as straightforward a move as possible under the circumstances.

Buffistas aren't Yetis.

You don't know. Some of us might be. The computer screen could hide a multitude of interesting physical and/or species diversity.