It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,

It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way . . .

I Just Felt Like Running

Most of what has happened since I last posted is very good. Only one thing sticks out as very bad. Okay, maybe not very bad, but kind of a drag. I'll go ahead and get that one over with first.

Like a Rolling Stone

In the last two weeks (-ish), I have slept in three houses, one condo, one cabin in the woods, one tent, and one dorm room. I have driven through five states, flown across two countries, and ridden on four boats of various sizes. I have eaten pancakes with chocolate chips inside the batter and pancakes with chocolate chips added on top. I have taken several fine naps. Most of all, I have eaten pancakes with chocolate chips inside the batter.

Climbed a mountain and I turned around.

Hello, hello. I have one class left in 14th grade, and then some finals. Which, if I think about them, get me a little stressed. 'Cause one of them is a 3,000 word schmangarang due on Tuesday. I'm kinda over those sorta things. I'll get through it. Maybe. I'm flying home on the 18th. I really don't want that to happen because I'll miss my friends, especially those who are seniors, so I'll never see them again except when I do. I really do want that to happen, though, because it will mean I'm done with finals. And I'll be able to see you guys at home. Well, those of you that are at home. Rachael is here right now. Here as in Middlebury. Let's talk about that, shall we?

They laid siege to it for seven years.

I just completed by penultimate week of class today, and I realize you guys are even closer to the end than I am. I hope you're surviving. Most of you. After I blogged last Friday, I got in a bus bound for Tufts, which is pretty close to MIT. I thought about texting you, Raku, but it probably wouldn't have been worth it because I was occupied with the track meet all day. So I didn't.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?

I have intentionally taken the lives of exactly 111 living creatures in the last twenty-one hours. Why, how, and from whom, you ask? Patience, lads and lasses. Patience.

Archer shot me with a cupid's arrow.

Congratulations, you survived another 6 days without a post from me. How you readers deal with such Nicole withdrawals every week is astonishing to me. I, for one, cannot live a day without myself. Speaking of days: LAST THURSDAY (beat that transition, Jason).