[	mood	|	sick	]
[	music	|	Cross Bones Style, etc - Cat Power	]

Very strange frame of mind right now.  Actually, I'm sick, and so everything is cluttered but spinning too fast to keep up and I can't sleep but staying awake is not good for me.  It finally caught up with me, the "GO! GO! GO!" of the past week or two.

Firstly, two of my grandfathers (my mom's dad and stepdad's dad) moved to Seattle within the last two weeks; one from Oregon into a nursing home, one from Idaho into a hospital for rehab care from multiple strokes in the last month.  Jason's been sick so I've been spending as much time as possible over there, showing him the first two Godfathers which none of his roommates had seen (!), up until Wednesday when I absolutely crashed and have been doing very little.  Today I'm supposed to go with him to take his kittens to the vet.  I probably will, whether I shouldn't or not.  Then we can go watch GF3, or rather, he can while I fall asleep in his lap for the 3rd time.  He's still not feeling great so we'll be kind of pathetic together, which is fine with me.  All I want is to be with my baby. :)

Started my job this week.  I really adore it.  Everyone is great, and I got paid $11 an hour this week to spend several hours (I'm a perfectionist, and they didn't come out perfect but I had to learn to say "screw it") cutting out stars, writing kids names on them with glittery puff paint, and hanging them fro the halogen light fixtures.  Oh yeah.  Turns out I actually don't get paid until the end of September (once a month) which nearly gave me a heart attack, but one of my coworkers is going to put my name through the network, saying I'm willing to babysit and housesit for parents at the school who pay $12-15 an hour to stay in their 9-bathroom mansions along Alki and the bluff, watching their kids and pets.  Also, I'll be working a nice 40 hour week while Chris is getting her foot operated on, until my school starts the 27th.  Chris also told me yesterday that I should NOT call myself an afterschool "teacher's assistant", but an after school "teacher".  Hello, resume!

Yesterday we went and saw a motivational speaker, speaking about children and how, basically we squash all their dreams and desires (unconsciously) by 4th grade with repeated "no! no! no!"s.  When I had taken Psychology the first time way back when I was 17 or so, I remember thinking "I would be a freaking awesome teacher!  I'm great at bringing kids up and lifting their spirits and telling them they can do anything they want!"  But then I guess I got scared or lost sight.  Then I turned to nursing.  Well yesterday as he was going on and on about following our dreams, it's never too late, etc etc, my wheels started turning, and I started thinking about teaching, "but what would I teach?  I've worked with kids so much, but would I be any good at actually teaching?  What would I want to teach?".... ART!  So it's a total 180 or 90 or something from nursing, but suddenly I've got all these rampant thoughts.  Honestly, the thought of taking ongoing lab classes for the next 2 years straight BEFORE nursing school exhausts me, makes me shudder.  They're interesting and all, and I do want to learn, but oy!  The thought, however, of going to one of those schools that all my friends are going to (Evergreen, Cornish, etc), taking humanities courses, finally learning scupture, painting, etc, leaves me giddy.  One thing the guy, Bob, mentioned yesterday, is that if you are born good at something, you rarely will become great.  I know what he means, it frustrates parents like hell.  I was born good at art.  It's automatic.  But it's like, why do I need to train to become great at it?  I've already got the natural ability, why not live with that?  Meanwhile, mediocre people (and this sounds so horrible, sorry to be offensive!) that have the desire and passion to become great, will always surpass.  I want to break that mold.  I've been so intimidated forever, but why?  Because  it's too hard to get a job in the art world, or the educated world?  I will survive, there's no worries about that, that I will be taken care of, God's in control.  Because I'm not that good?  My biggest cheering section, and I never understand why she sees this in me, is Kelsye, who has always told me that it doesn't matter how good you are going in, it's your potential, and I know I have potential.

So anyhow, now I'm thinking I may drop my BIO class this quarter and instead take:

ESCAPING THE MATRIX: DISCOURSE OF POWER Using the modern narrative, The Matrix, as a symbolic template, this course will use anthropology, sociology and critical theory to explore and examine the poligical economy of capitalism, its principles, and the mechanisms and consequences of globalization. By including indigenous research methods we will engage in the process of "unplugging" the culturally embedded hegemonic narratives of race, class, gender, sexuality and religion: In order to become more "awake" in the world which has been created. Students will choose 18 credits from the following:5 CREDITS: SOC 102: Intro to American Culture; SOC 120: Sociology of the Media; SOC 150: Race & Ethnic relations in the US; ANT 101: Intro to American Culture; ANT 200: Contemporary issues in Anthropology; HUM 105: Intercultural Communication: ENG 101/ENG 102: Composition; ENG 151: Creative Writing; 3-CREDITS: ANT 299, ENG 299, SOC 299. INSTRUCTORS are Al-Madani, Escudero-Shafer, and Hinckley.

Al-Madani is an incredible teacher, very controversial but fascinating, people flock to his courses.  I'm going to see my counselor this week and not automatically drop everything, but at the same time, I gave myself a quarter of buffer room with nursing and I need to retake most of the above classes for better grades anyhow, and how freaking cool does the class look?  So Kels, maybe I will be going to Evergreen, maybe you've inspired me yet again.  Dangit!

Oh yeah, I hope I get better by Monday.  Pixies at Bumbershoot, $15.  Can't miss that!!

I should be going to sleep.  I start a new job in 8 hours and 20 minutes, but the 6 hour nap I took this afternoon has left me in a perpetually groggy, yet insomniatic state of mind.  Our sermon at church this morning was actually really good, about keeping the Sabbath day holy.  In the Old Testament God ordered those who did not obey the Sabbath to be stoned, which is of course amusing.  Our pastor made some points I hadn't thought of before, very practical and very eye-opening.  If we take one day of the week for God, as our day of rest in which we change our focus from the hecticness of everyday life to focusing on the spiritual and living for Him, it will give us so much rest and force us to prioritize the rest of our week, leaving us all the more refreshed and less fatigued.  So I'm going to make more of an effort to keep Sundays as much as possible for Him, though not in a legalistic sense.  Being with friends and family can be very spiritual, I believe.

Anyhow, things are insane right now.  Mom's dad just moved to a nursing home up here where mom spends at least 8 hours a day literally holding his hand or harrassing the nurses and aides to give him the care he needs.  Terry was in Spokane the past week after his dad had had mulitple strokes (he'll be transferred out here likely tomorrow) and on the way home the clutch in his truck died and he spent 2 days in Moses Lake.  He got a haircut in Moses Lake.  That's about all there was to do in Moses Lake.

Meanwhile, Jason has been horribly sick.  His roommates have been taking care of him and I went over Friday night to help out.  We watched a movie, listened to some Mitch Hedberg with all the guys.  After Jason went to bed I sat up talking to Adam, one of the roommates, and his girlfriend Morgan.  Eric and Ian, the other two roommates, then came back from QFC and the three of us walked to the all-night used bookstore down by Central.  I got a Biology coloring book. :)  It was 2am by the time we got back so they were sweet enough to get me a pillow and blanket and I slept on the couch.  The next morning Eric made us all pancakes.  Jason woke, surprised to see me there, but I think he may have been happy about it. :)  He sat and stared at the 3" round piece of pancake I gave him and took a half hour to eat it, and it wiped him out when I drove him to the post office and atm, so he went to bed while I did some grocery shopping.  Then Dignan, one of his kittens, was scratched on the eyeball by Inez, his sister, so I ran him out to the vet (sweetest, most mellow kitty in the world!)  I was really happy to be able to help.  I made fruit salad and the guys all went crazy.  Jason started to feel a lot better, realizing that the prescription he's taking is especially doping him up, so I fell asleep while he held my hand and we all watched "Let it Be".  It was a nice moment.  I'm really happy that he has such cool friends that I can hang out with, and of course the coolest man in the world. 

This morning, though, exhaustion.  Ran sound at church then visited grandpa with the family.  Came home and slept from 2 to 8, not setting the alarm clock.  Oh, except not at home, I'm housesitting for a couple from church, the guy who usually runs sound.  It's ok, but I miss my own bed and home.  Puchi is being good with the cat that lives here, they run after me together.  But when Puchi is on the couch or bed with me and Bob jumps up to join us, Puchi snarles and growls like a rabid beast.  At the same time, if I was at home, I'd be sharing it with all of my grandpa's earthly belongings, which are currently sitting in my livingroom.  I have space to walk to the couch and see the tv.  Getting to the answering machine is an ordea, as well.  But I did get some pretty freaking cool furniture, including the cedar hutch that grandpa bought me when I was living with him, and a large entertainment center.  Oh yeah.

[	mood	|	groggy	]
[	music	|	the sound of the dishwasher turning over and over and over..	]

I'm slowly recovering from the hoopla of the wedding.  So much goes into a wedding, it makes me really seriously want to elope and then just have a huge party after the honeymoon.  Kind of like how buying the "perfect gift" for everyone over Christmas overshadows the fact we're celebrating the birth of Christ, the wedding and all the stupid little things that go along with it seem to overshadow the fact that this is a celbration of a new life together.  And to start off in debt from all the millions of purchases, such a pain.  Seems so much nicer to do one of the all-inclusive deals of a wedding and honeymoon at a resort in Fiji and then let the parents help out with a big reception where you can do rockeroke and dance along, or something.  Not to belittle Julie's wedding and all the planning, I was very happy to help despite the added expenses, and honored to be a part of it.

Thursday was the bachelorette party.  Drank out of penis straws at Madame K's, ate pizza, returned to Julie's to play sexual trivia games and open gifts.  Julie got some pretty cute lingerie, but had hoped for more naughty toys and such.  She got a few, though. :)  We all were wiped out by 10:30, though, and pushed ourselves to hang out until 11:00.  Pretty pathetic.  Friday the rehearsal and dinner in Covington, quite beautiful at the groom's (Benton's) parent's gardens with tents and white lights and such all around, and spent a good deal of time with my cousins Jeremy and Diane (Jeremy's wife, who I'm really loving, she's so great now that I've had a chance to get to know her) and one of the other Christinas (3 out of 6 of us bridesmaids were named Christina/Kristina!) who I'm definitely going to keep in touch with.  She's also a nurse with a graphic design boyfriend, just as me and Jason and Julie and Benton are, well, except I've not begun my nursing training.  I was so happy to go, though, because Jason had been pretty sick most of the week and we'd only had Tuesday night to watch some of a movie before he went home, poor guy.  So we cuddled and it was so nice to just be with him.  And I looked GOOD in my strapless black dress. :)

The day of the wedding was crazy.  Had to be there at 1:00 for pictures, after which we had 2 hours of down time.  Marie, Christina and I ran to 7-Eleven in our bridesmaids dresses and sweaters.  The second we finished our purchases, the rain came DOWN.  So we threw plastic bags on our heads and ran through the rain in our polyesther gowns, which dried pretty quickly, thank God.  The guys played poker while us girls sat around reading magazines or cooing over the Jeremy and Diane's newborn or Julie in her dress.

The wedding itself was much more traditional than I had thought, in that they used organ music and it was pretty small.  I felt as though I was going to pass out walking down the aisle, in part because I was so nervous about Jason being there, though he didn't show up until later anyhow.  The wedding party ran out and mom was gracious enough to grab Jason on the way out and introduce him to a few people.  Poor guy, so awkard for him to meet all these relatives and strangers, but we sat with Christina and Caleb, her man who didn't know anyone.  And we danced to that Stevie Wonder song I don't really like, the friends one, but Jason told me I was definitely the hottest bridesmaid.  I walked him to his car and we kissed a bit :) and was so thankful and impressed that he had come.  Of course the next day he was sick, as well as I, and we haven't seen each other since. :(  Well, this weekend we hope to run off to Portland for a couple days and just be away and be together.  Until then, I'm finishing up my last week with Danny boy, ready to start a whole new job Monday.  Crazy life.

[	mood	|	chipper	]
[	music	|	"Matchbox to the Rescue!" from this toy I bought Danny today	]

I haven't been updating LiveJournal lately.  Probably because I actually have a life nowadays.  I'm not actually sure when I last updated, so I'll just speak in general.

Jason is so amazing.  I'm so shocked he wasn't snatched by someone before me.  But he is a quirky one, like me, and I think only 2 people like us could be happy with one of the same.  He is so freakishly amazing with all his art; comic books, music, graphic design, videos, paintings and collages.  And he actually wants to be with ME!  Will wonders never cease?

Last week was a whirlwind, and only our second week together.  We went to a couple parties, one at his friends' new place down on Summit where we watched the meteor shower on the roof.  A few nights later the guys in his house had a party and I made my drink which is made up of rum (preferably cocunut), orange juice, and vanilla creamer, now officially the Jarvis Cocker (lead singer of Pulp, because of the orange juice), though I still kind of like Pulp Addiction.  I'd had my first white russian which was actually pretty amazing, so Jason and I went to the store and I picked up the other stuff, got back and everyone begged me to make them one.  Yup, I was a hit. :)  We stayed up listening to his roommate Eric play guitar, he's a musical genius and I say that with absolute honesty and reverence for this guys.  Such a sweetheart, too, he's going to lend me one of his drum sets so I can start teaching myself to play, whoo hoo!  I also got to talking more to roommate Adam's girlfriend, Morgan.  She is another sweetheart, and we had a pretty quick connection and are going to definitely hang out apart from the boys.  I was shocked to learn she's only 18 (only a year older than Jen!) but it really doesn't matter at all.  It would be crazy if she was Jenny's age, only because Jen is my little sister and I'll always, to some degree, see her in that light.  Or maybe in a few years it will change since she is still in high school and has not yet branched out to become her own.

Jason and I went swimming at Madison Park.  I'm feeling pretty fat this month, which no, I most definitely am not, but putting on a swimsuit didn't help and when I was shopping around for one that was less than 5 years old today, well, it just wasn't much fun.  Much better to buy the bustier I'll be wearing under the dress for Julie's wedding Saturday, which was slimming and slightly sexy.  Tonight he's coming over, we may go swimming again, or not.  It's pretty nice outside, perfect mid-70s for the next 2 weeks.  We've been spending our nights in his little twin-sized bed, which is great for cuddling, but horrid in the heat.  And he stayed at my place once (the room, of course, coated with clothing with cds and random books piled in various corners)  but it's just so much easier being at his place on Capital Hill, where my school is.

Yup, another friend getting married.  She's actually my cousin, the one I've been talking to about our weddings since I was in my mom's when I was 6, or even before.  So much going on.  Had the bridal shower and the bridesmaids' tea.  Thursday is the bachelorette party where we'll be ordering from the Erotic Bakery, having dinner at an old brothel, and presenting her with our scandelous gifts, amidst all-Christians. :)  Friday the rehearsal and dinner, and then Saturday the wedding.  Jason is actually going to the wedding, which is so sweet considering he'll be meeting the entire family from my mother's side that day.  He actually went to church with me this past week and met my mom and sister, just for a taste.  But anyhow, I'll be the hot bridesmaid and we'll dance for the first time to cheesy wedding music and I'll get to show him off as the hottest, most amazing guy I've ever been with.

I'm sure there's more.  Oh yeah, Kels takes off for Kobay, Japan, for at least a year, this Sunday.  She, Matt, and Kio met me and Jason for dinner Friday night which was nice.  And then when my new Japanese friend, Sachiko, and I went to see the film Ju-On at the Varsity Theatre, Kels and Buck showed up and sat with us.  I don't know if I'll see her again before we go, I think not, but we're trying not to make our good-byes a big deal.  I'm gonna miss her like hell, though.

[	mood	|	tired	]
[	music	|	Supervixen - Garbage	]

"It's so hard to fall in love during finals" my hippie friend Megan from school (whom I plan to keep as a friend even after this quarter ends) said today when I told her I'd had very little sleep the last few nights because my new boyfriend Jason and I have stayed awake talking all through the night save maybe 4 hours each night for restless sleep.  How right she is.  I'm at work shaking now, realizing that I've had very little to eat in the last 3 days, on top of sleep deprivation, which is known to be torture in some countries.  Having my family out of town leaves me to my own devices, not that I had been privy to theirs before, but there must be something about the aromas of Terry's good ol' home cookin' wafting down the stairs each night that reminds me it's dinner time.  I'm also broke, which makes it all the harder to go out and, um, buy food.  But my new boyfriend Jason (I can say that forever and ever and not get sick of hearing it! - I know my friends will but so what, this is my page!) is so sweet, such the gentleman that actually pays for meals.  One of the 3 things that made my girlfriends this past weekend so jealous.  1) He likes my short hair.  Most men ask "so, are you growing your hair out?" but he loves my hair the way it is, he makes me feel beautiful the way I am, even more so than if I even had long hair, which makes life easier since usually I'm to some degree self-conscious, knowing that whatever guy I'm with will find me that much more attractive when I've got some extra hair on the top of my head (and what is hair?  It's dead cells that form and pop on out through these pores that we style and design.  Ew!)  2) He comes to my house to see me.  Jordan did this and was sweet about it, yes, props to Jordan.  But living in South Seattle, so many people think I'm SO far away, whereas my new boyfriend Jason knows that a 20 minute drive somewhere is nothing, and can even be a great ride on his scooter on a bright summer day.  3) He pays for meals (though I don't want him to think I'm taking advantage, I'm so not used to this kind of thing and wondering when I need to step in, I don't think I've had a guy really offer since high school except maybe one or two meals, sorry if I'm forgetting any Jordan) and he opens the door, etc, he does what MEN are supposed to do.

So anyhow, I thought that I would want to shout to all the world exactly how I feel about this man in my life, but I can't.  Not because I don't want to or even am nervous of reactions.  But it's just so personal that writing it in some online journal seems to cheapen any real emotions I have.  So sadly, my few livejournal friends, there will be limited true-life juicy material to be found here.  All I can say is how freaking happy I am and you'll just have to read my smile to know what's going on inside my heart.

Oh, and one more thing about my new boyfriend Jason - his fingers are all double jointed and he can bend his fingers nearly all the way backwards against his hand, and his pinkie all the way!  This is giving me so much delight (he says I play with them more than he does and it's hysterical), I love his hands anyhow, large, soft and strong artist hands with short nails for guitar playing, but I've been spending way too much time playing with them, we even taped them back last night and it was too cool and we want to do something to freak my parents out with it.  Most girls think it's scary and gross, but I'm not most girls.  I love my boyfriend's freaky hands!

[	mood	|	good	]
[	music	|	the Malagasy music I just saw live	]

Tonight I had the greatest time!  I went to Jazz Alley with Van and two girls from church, Laura and Devon, to see the Malagasy band Jaojoby.  I'd hung out with Laura before with other groups, but decided I really, really like Devon.  She's 25 and she wants to go hang out and see live music, since she doesn't know who to see but loves it when she happens upon it.  I told her now I have a hot boyfriend (just because I love saying that! :) and he's got some friends, maybe we can train her.

The show was so good!  We got there early for dinner and got the best seat in the house - right smack in front, against, the stage, so we were in the lights and the stars.  Jaojoby is a family of about 8 people or so.  The lead guy is the dad, and the ENTIRE time he had this huge grin on his face, it's the first time in a long time I've seen a group play that is actually really, really happy to be on stage.  At first I wasn't so sure about the music but once I got into it, it was so great!  The way he looked at his wife, you could tell they were so in love.  And the daughters were these amazing dancers, doing sort of a belly dance type thing, but African style.  Van requested a song and they played it for her, and then the he pulled her up on stage to explain the song in English but she didn't know it exactly since it was in a different dialect.  She asked one of her Madagascar friends (many people from the country in the audience) and she explained that it was about infedelity, but Van added into the mike "with an awesome beat!"  A little bit later they played a song and he said "this is about a girl who loves a boy... and then dumps him" and I let out this huge cackle, the way he said it was just funny, and so he pointed me out and said "you laugh!" Later he introduced a song being about peace, honesty, and love and I let out a big "whoo hoo!" and he thanked me.  It was just so great, interactive.  And I love being the center of attention. :)  It was just a good night to be out with some women, since lately I've been mainly hanging out with my guy friends.  It's good to be a girl.

[	mood	|	ecstatic	]
[	music	|	"Time After Time"- Eva Cassidy	]

I don't care who reads this, Jason should be flattered if he does!  But I had the most amazing kiss of my life last night, my toes are still curling, and I think I have a boyfriend and I can't believe how much I like this guy and it's just so crazy how in-tune we are, how we are always saying or thinking the exact same thing, and how much we laugh together.  Of course I'm terrified because it IS so good, but I'm just gonna trust God with this one.  And you know the most exciting thing?  He really likes ME!

Tonight I'm going to Jazz Alley with Van, my pseudo-sister, to see a Malagasy (from Madagascar) band play.  I'm really looking forward to it.  I'm jealous because Jason is going up to this huge firework competition thing in Vancouver that his friend ago.  Supposedly it is so absolutely incredible that no other firework show will ever compare.  But I also have to have my boss hem my bridesmaid dress which right now will fit only if I hike up the skirt and pin it to my bra, my mom fixes the halter neck, and I stuff it with about 2 cup sizes so I'm at around a DD.  I don't really want to be THAT bridesmaid.  And tomorrow helping Julie put together wedding favors and such before Jason and I watch Bottle Rocket.  We've both got movies we have to switch off watching, stuff I've seen but he hasn't (the Godfather!, Say Anything) and stuff I haven't seen.  Oh, and we saw Napoleon Dynamite last night... Go See This Movie!  SO hilarious, everyone in the audience was laughing so hard the whole time, my stomach actually hurt.  If you stay after the credits there's an additional scene.  Eh, it's all right, doesn't add anything and is pretty random, but whatever, the movie was just too freaking hilarious.

OH yeah, and next week REM tickets go on sale for those of us in the fan club, along with Magnetic Fields! I'm gonna be so broke but I don't care!

Off to the vet to buy Puchi some eye and ear infection stuff.

I've got a boyfriend!! :) 

[	mood	|	giddy	]
[	music	|	"Sweet Lovin' Man" Magnetic Fields	]

Looking back on most of my journal entries, I don't have the most positive emoticons, but it's sad that generally when I write, it's the bad experiences that stick out the most, when I feel I really need to write in this cyber journal.  Really, I'm quite happy, and life is just getting better.

It's raining outside which makes me oh so happy, we've needed rain and since my parents are on vacation for a week, it's nice that I won't have to water the garden, which literally takes 30-45 minutes to do.  The Blue Angels are supposed to practice again today (living right by the lake for 15 years gives me permission to abhor their arrival, along with the hydroplanes that take over MY lake, forcing me to drive along Rainier or MLK or the I-5 instead of my relaxing morning jaunt by the lake and up Madison), so Danny's dad may take him this afternoon.  I'm actually working alll day today with Danny since Jen is gone.  I need the money desperately - Puchi now has both an eye and an ear infection and will cost another $60 today on top of the $30 I paid yesterday.  Blegh.  I love my dog.

I met a guy who is really, really great and both an artist and a musician, which is my favorite combo.  But for fear that he is reading this and will freak out :) or my friends will mock me, I'll leave most of my thoughts for gossip with my girlfriends, hee hee.  We saw the Village the other night (it was a good movie, very good direction and most would love it if it was another director, however don't expect your classic M. Night movie or you will be disappointed).  Tonight we're going to see Napoleon Dynamite which I haven't heard a whole lot about, but I know I'll like it. 

I really love my new naturpathic doctor.  She's working on killing my headaches and anxiety, but of course they're stubborn little suckers.  I've had headaches for forever, they're my body's defense mechanism, a shield of some sort.  Julie (my cousin, the newest nurse in my family) said accupuncture is supposed to take 10x until you really feel the effects.   I've had it done twice now, needles in my feet, legs, knees, jaw, forehead, neck, chest, hands.  I wish there was a mirror so I could see the needles, I usually sit up when she leaves so I can look at them, it's so exciting. She sticks them in, they are so tiny and they done go down into the skin, except on my forehead where I think she drives them under a couple of layes so they're lying against my face.  It hurts just slightly, my forehead KILLED this last time, but she said that was probably good, it's drawing the pain away.  It sounds so mystical and unreal, but I know it has worked at least slightly.  I have to wait 2 weeks now since she'll be on vacation.  Oh well.

My new job starts in a month.  It'll be great to be part of a team again (I hate the term "team" in reference to jobs, they always use it to make you feel like something greater at such evil empires as Walmart, but I'm working at a school, so it's not really a "company"...), I'm going to be at the inservice days and then invited for drinks at the Principle's condo, though that's the first day of Bumbershoot and I REALLY don't want to miss Death Cab.  I just feel cool being one of the teachers. :)

So that's my little happy life.  School is going all right.  I decided to audit chemistry since Seattle Central, out of all schools, universities, colleges, etc in Washington state, is supposed to have THE most intense chem program and I quickly realized that I wasn't going to get the grade I wanted.  But it's ok, I'm still learning, and of course ever since I stopped doing the actual assignments and such, I actually GET it.  The only problem with chem is the little stuff, the numbers and such.  I should do fine when I retake it, I'm usually the first one to speak up in class when she asks a question.  I'm like Lisa Simpson!  OK, not really.