the irony is, now that i can take showers as long as i want, i still only take 5 minute showers.

I loathe blog posts that begin with "Today." I know, as soon as I see that signifying word, that the post will be filled with a brief, inane synopsis of the day's events. But I find myself beginning this post, "Today."

Today was a mixed bag of events. Got my article for The Bridge online torn to shreds, only had one cup of coffee, only got six hours of sleep, and ate dinner alone. Then came the evening.

I totally walked into a potential NCMO situation. Not involving me, thank goodness, except in my role as the awkward interruptor of possible NCMO. About five really awkward minutes passed as I tried to figure out if I was reading the situation correctly, and if so, I needed to vamoose the heck out of there. Awkward. But also pretty funny, and not nearly as awkward as it might have been (they could have already been goin' at it).

I decided to undertake a project that's been on my mind for a few days. It's gonna sound weird to you, probably. Did I tell you, already, that I walked into Climenhaga on a whim and was bowled over by the sudden realization of the Climenhaga smell? I mean, I was standing there tearing up in the middle of the art hallway. So tonight, since I had a little time, I decided to go and smell every building on campus. I know - it sounds bizarre. I guess I'm just full of vagaries. So tonight I went and smelled every building on campus. The End. Probably this was an important experience, but I'm not sure how to explain to you why. Maybe it has to do with really working to regain familiarity and comfort with this place, which I used to feel like I owned easily.

I realized that coming back to the States is not just complicated because I'm dealing with all the ways I've changed. It's complicated because I'm dealing with all the ways everyone else has changed while I've been away. I came back preparing to pick up the threads of a life and social circle which really doesn't exist anymore. Probably easier for me, in one way, since I do feel that I've changed a lot, but making up another life for myself here in the same place as the old one is. . . well, it's not always easy.

The best parts about today? I got to talk to Greg on the phone. I got to talk to Liz on the phone! I got to hang out with Katie Ness, and we totally talked to Becca on speakerphone! Katie and I went on a Sheetz run for my first Krispy Kreme since re-entering the states. I tried to pay with a debit card, feeling totally American. It totally failed to work, and I felt like an imposter. But then I ended up with exact cash change, which made me feel proudly Italian (even though I'm nothing of the kind). You see how complicated the littlest things can get?

You know how I talked about feeling at home because the Bertram House people were at Ruth's wedding? Katie Ness makes me feel like I've come home in the same way. After talking to her, I felt like I'd been thirsty and not realized until she gave me a huge glass of water. So I'm really excited to live with her and Elena next year. Because it will at least feel like home, even if in a month and a half I'm still a little ill-at-ease with Messiah.

In conclusion? A really, really good day. But I've got to stop staying up so late!