The holiday season is upon us. We have Thanksgiving this week and then it’s just a matter of weeks before Christmas and New Years. Crazy how fast the semester has gone by. I’ve been busy with school, not getting hired, and there always seems to be something with my friends. Plus, the time flies when I get to see Sr. Francisco almost every day on Skype.
Right now I’m packing to spend the next week with Nicole and her family down in Connecticut. It should be a relaxing week, but I need to get some school work done so it won’t just be all sleep, movies and food (unfortunately). And, as per most of the time, I am over packing. The thing is that I usually overpack, but stuff it all together so compactly that not many people notice (ex. everything I brought to Brazil…). That’s usually why I insist on carrying my own bag, by the way, so you don’t find out how heavy (and thus compactly stuffed) it is. Plus, I like to show off my pack-mule skills. “I am strong like BULL.”
But it’s almost 5:00pm and totally dark outside, so I’m sitting with my light-therapy lamp on all the way up. That, coupled with my loud and fun music usually keeps the demons at bay. It’s been working so far.
In exactly one month I will be in Brazil, reunited with my Boo. It’s pretty exciting to think about, actually. And a bit nerve-racking because I don’t have my visa in hand yet. We’re working on it, though. I’m super excited to spend the holidays with Francisco, and meet his family, but I’m kinda sad that I’ve now missed a Colorado Christmas two years in a row. There’s always something magical about that season, with sunny but cold days. Plus, my parent’s house is always so warm (except for the basement) and happy to be in. They designed it well. And I’m starting to miss my own bed… but that’s another story.
Over a month ago I decided to apply for the Fulbright. The official deadline isn’t until next fall, but there is a Smith program that helps you get everything in order which really help your chances of getting it. Smith has something like an 80% acceptance rate, which is a LOT higher than the national average. So, I started. And it’s already a pain in my ass. I have to jump through a couple thousand hoops, and then do it backwards. But if it means I get to do a project that I’m really interested in, in a place that I really want to be, then I guess it’s worth the suffering until then. Unfortunately, I think the adviser is a little bit of a jackass. But he’s apparently amazing at his job.
In other news, the Smith Orchestra had their Fall concert last weekend. It went really well. Beethoven is always fun to play. Well, that’s all I have for right now.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!







I just got word a few days ago that my dearest kitten, Muppet, has passed on to a better world. She will be sincerely missed by everyone that was ever blessed to know her as I did. I hope to have a small service for her when I get back to Colorado. 



