Rain

Today I contemplated for a good while about a flattering rain coat and what that would look like. In Holland it rains 70 percent of the time. Even in July. I'm surprised there aren't more stores selling different options of rain gear, that doesn't make you look like a six year old.

Depressed

Yesterday I didn't want to do anything but sleep.
I've been waiting for my visa for a month. There is a chance I have to wait another month. But maybe not.
I miss New York. I didn't know I could miss a place this much, I'm also not sure why. I'm homesick, but the other way around. Then again homesickness is also not the most rational thing.

Fathers

Yesterday was the cremation of a friend's father.
The master of ceremonies had obviously not been a friend, or known the deceased. He kept saying things like: Now we'll be listening to some personal stories and touching music. All music was classical, and indeed touching. We wondered what he would've said if someone chose to play techno at their cremation.
There was also a man there that looked a lot like a gnome, including white beard, small glasses, a pipe, and a beret.
I felt bad for my friend; she had to shake hundred people's hands, most of whom she didn't know. At least she saw the humor of her father having befriended a gnome look a like. It didn't surprise her one bit.

Headache

Yesterday I saw Terrence Malick's new movie tree of life. We sat on the second row and about halfway through the movie I got a migraine. There were some beautiful shots of the big bang, lava streams, ocean creatures, and even a dinosaur, but most of these things made me want to vomit. In the end it was a movie about loss; of a childhood, innocence and a brother. After the movie we ran into a friend but I could barely speak. I'm not sure if it was only the headache, or also the existential questions raised by the movie. (Who are we, what are we doing here, is god watching us, where do you go when you die, etc.)
Then we got an asian hot dog. That helped.

MFA

I have it. Or at least a piece of paper stating I will receive my official diploma in the mail shortly.
Times I cried: 2.5 (once during my classmate/friend's speech, another time because my first year writing teacher hugged me. The half is because I sort of stayed teary eyed after the 4 glasses of champagne.)
Glasses of champagne: 4 at reception, 2 (pink) at dinner.
Shot of Bourbon: 0.5 (Shared with Dara)
Songs we danced to: 23 (A guess. More than half Motown.)
Times I hugged people: 7 (Rough estimate)
Gifts: 8 (60's costume jewelry pieces. Mad men inspired. My mother knows me too well.)
Fights: 1 (Girl who skipped the bathroom line to do coke with her friend. Unacceptable.)
Hours of sleep: 6

Last night's topics

Things I spoke about with my three classmates two nights before we are graduating:
Whether or not friendship is conditional. (I argued against, someone else pro)
Whether or not someone should sleep with the person they are in love with even though they are still with someone else, or whether they should break up first. (Again, opinions differed)
Oysters. Just that they are very tasty.
Jobs. We decided to start our own airline. Imagine air. There would be no planes, but I would be putting the tags on the luggage.
The fact that hair gets greasy when pregnant. (I did not know this)
Jealousy. And how to act rationally at all times. (Impossible)

Heartbreak Hotel

A woman in China tried to jump out of the window after her fiance called off the wedding. Luckily a hotel worker saved her by holding her by her throat. What looks like suffocation is really an act of heroism. I sincerely hope she makes the right decision and marries this man in uniform instead. Their engagement story will be a lot more exciting than her first one. Love and death in a hotel room, it's like a poem. I hope she too realizes; romance never died. It rises from the ashes every day without us noticing.