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So yes, I am back. Again. Hopefully for good. Anti-climactic much? I am going to be blogging in a different format from now on- shorter entries more frequently. Not every entry has to be a mini-essay on the virtues of Magritte or an explanation of why I disapprove of Mike Huckabee.

Notice I changed my avatar (to something a little more cheerful). Also, I'd noticed I still had my Dark Wintry Song Mix up, but it's spring now and crocuses and breezes and gaiety and they were no longer appropriate. So now it's all the happiest songs I could find. In cheery purple instead of somber blue.

So hmm, what's new with me? In the past few days, I have...

- Started a diet, broken it, started it again, broken it again, etc. at least 5 times. My great downfall is hot chocolate. With marshmallows. Also, I've learned how to eat a spoonful of hot chocolate mix and a spoonful of peanut butter together, in the most delicious amalgam imaginable.

- Participated in a shockingly heated debate on the issue of baptism vs. paedo-baptism. (I believe the former but many of my friends believe the latter.) It really went nowhere, but I got to see my friend Shannon and also ate bacon-lettuce-mustard-on-German-wheat sandwhiches so fortunately the day was not wasted.

- Attended a screening of my friend Rachel's movie, through the organization Reelworks. Among the topics her fellow teens covered were gentrification, identity, art as salvation, and long-distance love. Hers was naturally the best (lots of profound shots of eyes and dream-catchers) but I enjoyed all the films, and afterwards there were copious quantities of sandwiches and brownies. Which was good. I was hungry.

- Read The Last Days of Socrates and decided that Socrates is by far the cuddliest philosopher. I want to wrap him up and stick him in my pocket. And I must read more Kierkegaard. I like him.

- Become convinced that although there may be a relatively logical approach to atheism (namely that of Sartre and/or Nietzsche), it is so far removed from the subjective tirades of Hitchens and Dawkins as to be almost unrecognizable. Also, if I personally followed it I'd just have shot myself in the head ages ago, cowardice or not. The fact that I am still alive obviously means I do not agree with Sartre.

- Despaired of ever finding the perfect college. Although St. John's sent the best pamphlet ever, an adorable chubby little booklet about their Great Books program. And Fordham's and the Robert Cook honors college sent, like, 50-page magazines. And I was temporarily wooed by Shimer's in Chicago except that, well, it's in Chicago and also does not have French. Why are colleges with French minors so hard to find? Grr. Maybe I will become a renegade and run off to join the circus.

- Suddenly realized that I really require very little for incandescent earthly happiness. A. Doctor Who, season 3, on dvd. B. Bill Bergson and the White Rose Rescue, by Astrid Lindgren. (excellent old children's book, but out of print) C. Every Regina Spektor song ever recorded. D. Lots of dark chocolate. Provide those and I will be the definition of a happy camper, following you everywhere in perfect compliance.

- And most importantly, finished The Odyssey and FELL IN LOVE WITH IT MOST MADLY which is odd because I wanted to burn the Iliad. Nearly threw it across the room when poor Hector was being dragged around by his ankles, even though I already knew what was going to happen. I wonder what the Aenead will be like.

- Oh yes, and finally, sorted every character from every book or movie I can possibly think of into a Hogwarts house. For example, Odysseus is Ravenclaw while Hector was Hufflepuff. I've noticed a strange pattern, female Ravenclaws very often marry male Gryffindors. Wonder why that is...

So, not too shabby for a Return Post. I hope. Bubyes. Plz comment, k, thnx.

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