Feature Article: Inner Musings
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     It's about a week now until my graduation. Am I excited? Kinda. I
don't think it's hit me yet that I'm not going to be going back to school
again. Maybe it's cuz I keep telling myself I'll see these people again.
Maybe it's just another move in my life, the latest of many. And maybe it
really has hit me, but I'm just denying it.
     Ever since I came back from Japan, it's been really hard to get
worked up for anything. I can't get motivated for anything. Sure, I
applied for a job, but that's about it. My life is such a limbo right
now, it scares me. I always told myself that when school was over, I'd
take care of all the things I've been putting off. But when I think about
it, I just can't find anything that's immediately pressing (besides the
job). School's been a complete wash. Even the "super important paper" for
English couldn't get a rise out of me. I've just fallen into a giant
funk.
     And the girl thing, y'know? it just doesn't get any better. I mean,
I haven't been thinking about it for a long long time, so I thought that
i was just fine. And then there's my friend, Maureen. No no, it's not
that I like her or anything... well, I do, but in one of those platonic
ways. But she's always confiding to me her own problems, and it just gets
me to subconsciously mulling over my own standings. And we talk about
some really intimate stuff (at least by my standards). Before now, I
don't think I had ever talked about sex with a woman in such a frank way.
     Maybe it's because I feel as though I'm losing my old way of life, a
way that's been so constant that I've, God forbid, taken it for granted,
and expected it to be like that for a long time. Think about it: when's
the last time I had any contact with y'all? Lastly month I saw a bunch of
you, but since I came back, not a mail or message since the beginning of
June. And now my friends that I see everyday at school, well, we won't be
in school,so... I dunno. I guess I'm just asking you guys to keep in
touch, just so I don't feel like I've been forgotten.

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     - Stared collecting the "Maison Ikkoku" manga graphic novels. This
is my most favorite manga series of all time (although "Video Girl Ai"
comes in a close second). Maybe another reason my life is feeling kinda
in limbo. Just call me Godai...
     - Graduation is coming up pretty soon. Uh, Thursday, actually. So if
anybody is going to be in the vicinity around then, you wanna see my
graduation? Of course, the rules and rugs are a little different for my
fellow Jersey Brothers. That is, I EXPECT you to be around, so I'm most
definitely going to call you some time this week and arrange something.
     - Yearbook came out. It's pretty cool. My write-up is just what I
wanted it to be, and my two important pieces of art are in. I'll scan it
in and get it up on the web site. Whoops...
     - That's right, I'm sorry, guys. I started a website, but I haven't
worked in it very much, so i didn't tell you guys. If you want to check
out the little stuff I've done, the URL is fly.to/new_jersey
     - Saw a bunch of movies, On tape and in the theaters.
        "Shanghai Noon": as a western spoof, it's a great movie. But it's
more of a "Rush Hour" than a "Drunken Master Part II."
        "Mr. Nice Guy": This movie filled up a pretty good desire to see
a real Jackie Chan Martial Arts quota. But the ending involved more
monster trucking than fighting, which was a little bit of a letdown.
        "Mission: Impossible 2": This movie should have been called "Tom
Cruise Kicks Everybody's Ass." There was only a hint of spy subterfuge,
but the action scenes at the end are absolutely CRAZY!!!
        "Much Ado About Nothing": Yep, this film takes the place of my
most favorite Kenneth-Branaugh-Does-Shakespeare movie. It's such a light
a heartwarming film. And I know that she's like forty, but man, is
Beatrice pretty...
     - Scott McCloud's new book came out. "Reinventing Comics" follows
his first book, "Understanding Comics," in which he explained the
workings and nuances of the sequential art medium. This time, he explores
the politics and revolutions of comics. A definite must-read.