Next, Please

Let me just say that the amount of reading I have this semester is insane. This week I have read 200 pages of the Middle East textbook, journal articles, and internet sources. Class is tomorrow and am still not done. This is because I have been busy spooning up the alphabet soup of my African conflicts textbook:

"Thus it was that in March 1962 the UPA formed a front with former members of earlier associations such as ALIAZO (Association of Natives of Zombo) and ASSOMIZO, which had created the PDA, from the later union with which emerged the FNLA."

OMGWTFBBQ. All of this frontin' is taking place in Angola, in case you're interested. I'm certainly not, because this text seems to eject characters onto the stage as though from a chicken cannon in the wings. They just appear, with no exposition, such that every so often F.W. de Klerk wanders onto the scene and you wonder whether he's left his reading glasses in the parlour, because he has no apparent connection to the events of the previous sentence. However, apart from the risk of eye strain, my classes this semester look much better than last semester. This is good, because frankly if it had been worse I would have had to seriously reconsider my choice of major/school/planet.

Anyway. The birthday celebrations on Tuesday were modest yet fab -- Wulfric, Janet, Kelly, Katherine, and I went to Grace O'Malley's. Jordan tried to come, but didn't arrive in time to beat the lineup, so he got stuck outside. Further festivities are planned for the weekend. Wulfric's birthday was on the 7th, so I suppose this is a nice little tapering-down of birthday stuff for him. He had a Beerfest/Beerstravaganza/Beer Mitzvah on Saturday. The proceedings were impressive in the dedication of the participants and also in the true foulness of the rum selection. Note: just because the British Navy drank it doesn't mean normal human beings should.

I departed Jordan/Wulfric/Derek's to hang out at Jacob's, where his dad was having an office party featuring Steph, tiramisu, and an abundance of cute babies. From there it was off to the Thirsty Toad for James' band's show. I had never actually been to see the Red Light Saints, but they are highly recommended for a rockin' good time. The Red Light Saints' Facebook group has grown to something like 140 members in the past week, so hooray for them!

Work has been good. I suspect one of my projects is going to turn out to take hideous amounts of effort -- not at all what I'd wanted. But that's OK, I can sleep in April once the contracts are finished.

In conclusion, I am tired and miss my family.