I was cruising the New York Magazine website when this gem popped up.

I realize you’ve got to have advertisers. But honestly, New York Magazine, I expected more from you.

Maybe I’ve earned it? What kind of tagline is that? Is a ‘celebration ring’ up there with liberty and the right to oxygen? Advertising department:you can do better than that.

CS3 is out!!!! The new Photoshop is going to rock da house.

I kind of forgot there for a minute. February was not a good month in terms of scholastic achievements. But now I’m back in full force, writing papers, making presentations, and in general, not flaking out.

It’s weird to be in school, and not have art projects due. Everything I’m doing this semester is shoulda-done-it-when-I-was-a-freshman stuff.

I gave my presentation in English today, and it was special. I think I may have been the only coherent one in the room. It took a while for the class to snap to attention, I feel for my teacher – 5:30 is not a fun time to teach a class.

Now I’m sitting here… prepping for a test, and listening to Ray Charles. Good stuff, yo.

As we hopped up the stairs to apartment 206 to deliver another round of warm n’ fuzzies (again, I’m 25, and I’m typing this with utter and absolute seriousness) it occurred to me that this was all a little… different.

Apparently, my sudden realization showed. As we walked in Landon hollered, “Tai, you don’t look so happy to be here.”

It’s not necessary to ever respond to anything in 206, because someone else will say something at least once every 10 seconds, so if you can’t think of a suitable reply, just keep your mouth shut, and all will be well. So I did, and sure enough someone did say something else, and all was well.

But as I leaned up against the wall, waiting for them to sort out their plunder so we could go, I thought about how it’s these little moments in life that make up the big ones, and will color our memories of how our youth was spent. And I really wonder, am I happy to be here? In a year, ok, six months, will any of this semester even matter? Will these people I’ve randomly crossed paths with have any effect on my life at all?

And dang it, IS it my pond or theirs??? It had better be mine.

LATER: Just to clarify… I love my ward. I am sooo happy to be here. I just didn’t look like it at the moment. It’s something I need to work on, apparently.

Julie: “Just kiss him, then you’ll know, and so will he.”
Me: “But I lack that certain… quality… that enables me to walk up to a man and kiss him without prelude or invitation.”
Julie: “It always works in the movies.”
Me: “You really are the awesomest person I know.”
Julie: “That’s just your flu talking.”