Have not been updating lj lately as much as I could-- perhaps it's the lack of procrastinating that needs doing. So, news: I passed all my classes, and am suddenly quite looking forward to going back to school in two weeks. Has nothing to do with cable and ethernet access, either. This is being posted from Mom's brand-new computer, so yay there. She's already playing spider solitaire.

Dropped stellar_dust off Saturday, she is back in beautiful Grand Forks, ND: no I did not go along, which I will probably regret for the rest of my life. Read fanfic and watch television and eat chocolate won my poll. You bunch of lazy slackers, you were *supposed* to encourage me to work. However your wish is my command: I have been doing that industriously, although have not watched any XF since sister left. Do have my PotC dvd now though: am considering watching one of the commentary tracks tonight, with rum-flavored cocoa. Went to quilting this morning, then shopping with Mom for first time in a long time. Score: One pair dungaree overalls and one pair loudly striped tights, $15. Four SW novels, one odd AU SW comic in which Luke dies on Hoth, which stellar_dust will probably like because Han thinks he's a Jedi, the Epic of Gilgamesh, biography of Edgar Cayce, the Green Fairy Book, The Long Winter, and Beat to Quarters: $1.10. Ah, Goodwill.

Yesterday was Epiphany Sunday. Dared Mom to explain circumcision to the all-ages Sunday School class. Enjoyed expressions on little boys' faces, though I would probably have been more graphic. Pastor's kid was telling me I should read the Book of Revelations because it talks about a *snicker* prostitute, did not believe me when I was unshocked, so sent him off to read about Onan, Tamar, and Judah. In penance actually listened to the sermon; was usual combination of things I violently disagree with, things I find pointlessly obvious, and actual thought-provokingness. He concentrated on the importance of prayer, which has only a tangential connexion to any of the Epiphany readings (the wise men, the circumcision of Christ, the baptism by water, and the wedding at Cana.) But he did dare us all to make a New Year's resolution of spending an hour a week in silent prayer, and I might just take him up on it. Whether anybody's out there listening or not, spending an hour or so in a beautiful place in pleasant conversation with God does always make everything right with my world: I do it less often than perhaps I should for fear it will lose its effectiveness if overused, but maybe this is a resolution I can actually keep: and as it entails walking to the creek or the park or the chapel once a week, it dovetails nicely with the "get more exercise" initiative.

Kay came for a visit yesterday. She used to rent our basement, when I was very small-- she's been in Hawaii for ten years or so, but now is back in the area, and says it's home. This, while we were having single-digit temperatures. She was surpisingly very little changed. Very easy to talk to, effortlessly superior. I may have underestimated the extent to which she became my template of the successful independent woman. (Datapoint: found myself thinking she reminded me of Scully.) One of the few things I remember about her is giving us really very good advice about growing up which I quite regret not following. She did more of that yesterday. Will probably not follow that either. Hope she sticks around: she's fun.

Have been treating certain boys very despicably. Ended up discussing this with Kay, which tells you something about how easy she is to talk to. But. Owe phone calls. Phone. Phone scares me. Boys scare me. Human contact scares me. Wah.