Um, well, it took:

4 years, being a surf bum in san diego, countless half-finished applications, some half-hearted studying for the GRE, a broken heart, a mended heart, moving across the country (twice), a lot of vodka, 3 "real jobs," some research, 6 weeks of wandering around Europe, and agonizing over a sufficient personal statement for way too long...

but I start grad school at DePaul in 6 weeks. FINALLY. English MA/PhD here I come. Bitches.

The Sculls

I started rowing again last night. Went out in a 4 with this organization last night, started by my lovely and fabulous friend Jenn: www.recoveryonwater.org

Then sculled for the first time ever this morning...Jenn and I are racing a double in a 1K sprint in 2 weeks. That pretty much means I'm going to live at the Lincoln Park Boat Club:



...and not be able to move for the next week while my muscles (and poor, blistered hands) get used to it again after, oh, a five-year break.

But DAMN does it feel good to be back on the water. Ohhhhh early mornings, you make Chicago look so beautiful, before everyone is out and about.