i was on the treadmill on saturday when i got what i think is my first truly ingenious idea of grad school. my ridiculous paranoia on being scooped prevents me from detailing it here (i know i'm crazy), but i will say that it costs no money and potentially answers a very interesting question (plus gets me one study closer to being done with these sisyphean labors). the "no money" part is critically important, but i'm hoping that it's good science as well.

*

with the brother arriving in two days to start school here, the next big change to our uber-complicated family situation is here. the other housemate's lease doesn't run out till september, but it looks like we might be living together for the first extended period of time since forever come fall. it seems strange to even have to make an issue about this, but mine is a strange life.

*

it's prompted other thoughts. i have known this for a while, but now, this winter is the first time i've felt, deeply, that things are truly never going to be the same again, that ever more i'm going to have that shao xiao li jia lao da hui sensation when i go back to singapore. everything seems a very long time ago, receding fast. i guess at the same time, though, i'm less afraid of the consequences once it does happen; once you're out of the gravitational field of normalcy and others' expectations, you're free to float as far into outer space as you care to go. i need more waterwheels and train rides through europe in my life. can i graduate yet?