"Sool"

When I was 7 or 8 years old, our elderly neighbors used to have thier grandchildren visit them from Alaska. I don't remember the little girls name, but Ryan was a little boy, about 4 or 5, who was fascinated by airplanes and liked to help Jake and I build mud roads on which our tractors, trucks, and cars would "drive" on. He pronounced "school" as "sool" and for some reason I have never forgotten that.

It is my second week of "sool" and for the most part it has not been entirely gruesome. The fun starts now, though, as we are already discussing and planning our group projects for the end of the semester. I have to do a lot of reading for class discussion tomorrow. My book is probably lost in the mail as I have yet to receive it so I'm hoping the library has it in stock.

I am tired.
Karine and I used to wake up last semester and the first topic we would discuss was when we were going to take our nap that day. Right after chapel? I get out at this time...let's do a 15 minute power nap in this time slot... And then we would lock our doors and Karine's I-tunes would softly play in the background and if anyone tried to contact us...it wasn't going to happen. Naps were sacred in 310, one of the many things I miss about it. Today I work at 4. I will probably be home around 2 so that gives me about an hour nap before I have to get ready for work. AN HOUR! I'm quite excited about that...and tomorrow I get to sleep in, a luxury that I have unfortunately grown used to.

Tomorrow is homework day.
I like that I have 2 days a week that can be completely devoted to homework.

Karine makes me laugh. We are so different from each other in virtually every single way. I am in my khaki capris and a purple/fuscha t-shirt and flip flops...my hair is up because its too hot to straighten it...and Karine shows up to class in a pencil skirt, with a brown shirt tucked in, brown heels and ( if I remember correctly) a clutch.

Karine eats like a civilized being in the caf.
I eat a chicken leg out of a zip lock bag...in class.
Karine communicates very well. She plays, she banters, she takes charge and Karine most likely has that number you've been looking for in her cell phone. She's classy. Sophisticated. And has a heart as wide and deep as the unexplored ocean. I admire that kid.

And me?
Well, I prefer to be comfortable rather than fashionable. But I do make sure that I am at least semi-presentable...I don't wear pencil skirts to class but I make sure I look tidy. And whereas Karine is bold and daring when it comes to talking with people, I am more reserved and quiet...and most likely the one to make a fool of herself in a conversation..."are you Ben?...oh...you're Joel. Now I remember!" What a tard...

But Karine loves me.
And I love Karine.
She is the yin and I am the yang...
and for all of our differences,
we do have similarites,
and we have a unique friendship.
I love that kid.

Well...
I'm off to find the book...