The start of a new school year. *Sigh* I suppose I should be more upbeat. Hey! School's starting again!! Yay!!

You know, it's funny how parents, counselors, and older friends always give you advice on stuff like hard classes, credit hours, majors, and robbing banks to buy your textbooks, but they never once mention what to do when:

• your classmate, whose name you swear was Joel last year, suddenly seems to be named Santos
• that girl who befriended you against your will in History class last semester and whose name you still don't know turns up in your History class again
• everybody won't stop smoking
• you can't get your hands on any high school cafeteria lasagna
• you have to park 20 minutes away from your first class
• the windshield of your car seems to be coated in grease
• you run into a friend from high school who totally blows you off
  and, in general,
• none of your problems are academically related.

Other than all that confusing name business, I'm actually having a lot of fun this semester. My classes are interesting, and I'm definitely trying to wow everyone with stellar grades. These are the goals I've set for myself; I'm hoping I'll follow them more strictly if everyone can see them and prod me about them. My short/long-term goals:

• To make no average that is lower than a B+. Should an extreme situation arise, I will allow myself one B.
• To make no more than two B+ averages.
• To make at least two A averages.
• To reward myself with hash browns from McDonald's if I get 5 A's on major grades. I believe an A is anything 94+.
• To see the Harry Potter movie, but not until I'm totally caught up with all my pending assignments.
• To pretend each paper is due one day in advance and get it done.
• To take 12 extra hours by the end of Summer 2002, so I will have senior standing.
• To go through German immersion again because I have to take GERM 2332 next semester.
• To attain a relative state of bliss.
• To find out what is the deal with that Joel/Santos guy.

Well, wish me luck, guys. You should prod me a lot, like my dad is doing. It will make me feel guilty, and maybe I'll actually do work this year. Hope everyone has a good year, too, though you all work much harder than me. It's a given that you will succeed.

Must have 5 to reach Hash Brown Goal: (none yet)

Helen