Friday Friday!

Today went pretty well.

I got up early at around 5AM.  I was in the middle of a good dream, too--but the heavy alarm warned me that my history final was today.

The test lasted for 3 entire hours--and I used every minute of it to write three essays on 15th and 19th industrialism, global trade, and English expansion.  It was grueling to Kid Will, but on the inside, I knew I loved it.  I love being able to apply my knowledge to concrete conclusions and big-picture connections.  There's no high school bullshit questions such as:  "Why do I care about this?  Why does it matter?"  I'm already trying to answer those questions on the damn essay prompt!  And I do!  I understand why it matters.

I understand now that those religious wars of the 17th century, that I thought were so pointless and stupid, eventually led to secularization--a push toward separation of church and state which allowed countries to focus on more important things such as the arts and the sciences.

I understand now that industrialization required the fuel of raw materials that were supplied by cheap labor and slavery.

I understand that the industrialization provided countries with the power to dominate and subject foreign lands through imperialistic manifestations--but ultimately that industrialization served to unite the world under trade and global network connections.

It's always connected.  And I learned much through the 10 weeks of that history class.

After I was out of the final, I felt a weight off of my shoulders--but I didn't feel victorious or anything.  I read a passage from The Art of War that states something like:

Do not look for victory after battle.  You will only find defeat.  Instead, look forward to the next battle.

I suppose it makes sense.  I have to start sending in my supplementary application materials (my personal essays, creative writing samples, short films, photographs) to Cal State Long Beach and UCLA.  Oh boy.  Here we go again.

But they're basically my ticket out of here so here goes nothing!

When I got home I ate a little bit, played the guitar, and felt like filming so I grabbed my gear and drove over to Stephens house--but we didn't film anything because I kept getting distracted!

I met his friend Brittany, the girl who helped Megan get fired, (but that's Megan's fault) and she seemed nice.

Afterward, we went to feel some nostalgia by exploring the innards of the mall and met with Mae and some of Stephens other friends.

We left the mall and went to Joey's house.  Stephen and I were both getting kinda hungry when Joey started eating chips and salsa.  Joey's mother started to say something about how hosts should always offer their guests food and Joey responded with something like:  "We're white.  we don't offer our guests food.  only drinks."  I would have laughed harder if it wasn't for the fact Joey was dead serious.  He can be an odd motherfucker.

Stephen and I left around 930ish and we talked awhile in the car.  I started reflecting about how it was so hard to find "real" people here in this small town while he related about his problems with his cousin.  It was overall a very productive conversation, as it always is.

 And then I thought of the girl with brilliant green eyes again.  And shook my head thinking: it's a damn shame.

I'd love to go into detail,

But just the same,

I wouldn't.

Funniest moment of the day:  Seeing Jack Strut(s) walk past us at the mall.  He got fat.