it's been a while, of course, and, of course, a lot has happened. my initial intention in beginning this entry was to give all of you out in readerland some fascinating representation of my experience, but as my energy and ability to create cohesive analyses wanes, i'll settle for the brief rundown.

i spent the past week or so in Seattle, visiting my aunt, uncle, and two cousins which are the only two on my mom's side that i don't see on a rather consistent basis (because all of the others are in the san diego area). they're great kids, and honestly it was a really nice way to spend my 21st birthday. the night before i had lain awake on their living room couch until late into the night, a little restless and vaguely wanting to feel more attached, more involved, more passionate about life. i tried to hone that absence, to turn it in on itself and make it an experience, to make it something that will change me. as for the depth and duration of that change, only time will tell, but it felt good, and it helped me the next day. but what helped me more, perhaps, were my cousins, particularly Anna, who tried to secretly draw a picture of me on her placemat during dinner, and then ripped it out nicely and gave it to me. She also held my hand as we walked around the wharf, and during the Harry and the Potters concert she smiled everytime she looked at me because I was having such a good time, even though she didn't understand what was going on in the songs because she has yet to read the books (she's only 7). And Louisa, well she was rocking out as much as her 5 year-old self could. As for Harry and the Potters -- they're awesome live. We saw them perform in a bookstore near the University of Washington, and those two brothers had such a great attitude and energy, and they played perfectly to the motley crowd of eight year olds, parents, high school and college girls, and even some childless adults.

i realize now that this entry was a little more in-depth than i led you all to believe. but there's more, and this is the chronological rundown:
-took the GRE on monday, did alright, but i think i can do a bit better
-went to SB and had a wonderful few days with Les (i'm headed back there on sunday for a week, and her birthday is on Monday, yay!)
-drove back thursday night, then continued down to pacific beach to stay with my grandparents, because my flight was early friday morning
-flew to Seattle; my uncle Tim picked me up in the airport and we had some interesting discussion about music, politics, family and life in general, from there we drove to the ferry for Whidbey Island, where my mom and aunt and cousins had been staying on a cottage on the bay.
-left the next morning for Vancouver, had a good time in Canada until we drove back monday afternoon.
-tuesday was my berfday funness, including looking at the University of Washington and visiting a really cool old book store
-flew back yesterday with my mom, and had a nice home-cooked dinner with my grandparents. 
-the Padres dominated the Giants in a quick two-game series in SF. Go Padres!

And that's it for tonight.