So, I know I've been a bad boy this year in regards to blogging. My Christmas has been a joyous one, however, and there's still loads to go. On Christmas Eve I brought in Bob, our tree, and decorated him with Pippa and Laura. Afterwards, I went to two church services: one at North Shore Baptist Church, Laura's church, and the other at St. Luke's. My brother Nate doesn't arrive home until tomorrow, so that's when we're going to do the whole opening-presents-sitting-around-a-fire deal. It still feels like Christmas, though, even though the weather outside reminds me of Spring. And to reinforce that spirit, soon Nate will be home, and Jennifer too, and a week or so after that, my roommate Simon is *fingers crossed* coming up to visit before we make our way back to school. And on top of everything else happy, I got my grades back from my first term and I am more than satisfied with the results.

A very merry Christmas to you all, and I'll try to do better next year.

It is a good day... A good day indeed.

I am officially done with my first semester of college. Go me!!!

I got a critical success of aa geekery roll, switching my wireless router from broadcasting a private LAN to the school network. w00t!

My room is actually clean.

No, really. I mean it.

Really.

"We are now official members of the Woot-Tang Clan."
-Me

Last night was the best night I've ever had here at Marlboro. I ran around like a relay runner, from chorus to dinner to play callbacks to the chorus concert then back to callbacks then to work in the lab. I finished my writing portfolio (the only real requirement here at Marlboro) just in time to hear that I'd been cast as a major role (Louis Ironson) in next term's big school production, Angels in America. After much jumping up and down with my freaking awesome castmates/friends, I wrapped up my workshift and made my way down to the dining hall.

There is a tradition at Marlboro that accompanies the submission of the Writing Requirement Portfolio. The administrative staff and people in similar positions of responsibility cook up Midnight Breakfast (pretty self-explanatory), and everyone is all excited because they're done or tense because they have to finish up and emotions run high and there's music and random group hugs and indoor four-square (yes, indoor four-square. I love my school). Having finished my portfolio (done done done!) I was able to enjoy the festivities guilt-free, and once the party started to die down I went off with my roommate Charlie and friends Smashley and Claire to watch movies all night in celebration. After taking in some Family Guy, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Monty Python, and Thumb Wars, we faced the dawning new day, turned in our portfolios, and had just enough energy left to ingest some food before falling asleep.

And there was morning, and there was afternoon. The day after.

So, craziness up in Vermont, and I'm not just talking about the weather (although it is freakishly warm out). Between academics (dear Lord my writing requirement deadline is coming up aaaahhhh), extracurriculars (three concerts to sing this upcoming week), and surviving school (quite literally; apart from my lack of sleep, I was in a car accident about a week ago. Noone was hurt, and everything's fine, but I'm still kinda shaky about it), I'm managing for the moment to keep just enough of my head above water that i'm not choking too hard. One of the high points of next week will be auditions for next term's play, part I of Angels in America. it looks like a lot of fun, and I hope i make it in.

Today was AIDS Remembrance Day, and I spent a lot of time just sitting and thinking about an old friend from a long time ago. He was an inspiration, providing me with an example of how I wanted to live my life and how good ordinary people can be.

Thanks, Gary. I miss you.