After tomorrow, I am 25% finished with my career at Ohio Wesleyan. Strange to think that it was only three and a half months ago that I first set foot on this campus as a student ready to learn and impact my community. And now...now, I can hardly wait for tomorrow.
The semester has been overwhelmingly successful; I've maintained decent grades in all of my classes, figured out early that I would never survive Calculus, and made some new friends. Are these people with whom I would trust my life? In a serious situation perhaps... Are they going to be lifelong friends? Only time will tell.
I've been experiencing a return to my past as well, in various manners. For example, once again I was introduced to someone who I dated for only a short time through darling Justin. Justin, who once told me he wanted to date me himself and who I believe in fact would make a play for me if ever he thought he had the chance. I could be wrong, for I know he understands as well as I that we would never be compatible. And, not having learned the lesson from the last time Justin introduced me to someone, I took a plunge in an effort to feel validated and worthwhile - I know, something one should never do, but I did it anyway.
It was a larger mistake than I realised at the time. A week later I had already realized my mistake, thanks in part to a reconciliation between Chris and me; when I told him we were through he sat there and cried.
Brief aside: I have no problem with men's tears; in fact I believe that a man who can cry without shame in front of other people - when the situation warrants it - is a greater man than the one who tries to hide his feelings and always appear to be macho. The problem, then, was the situation. You do not cry as if you've lost the love of your life when a person you've been dating for one week tells you it isn't working - no matter the reason. If there is anything I have learned in my 20 years, no matter how long it took me to learn it, it is that you cannot expect forever from someone you barely know.
And he still has my copy of Wicked...
At any rate, Chris and I are doing quite well. With him I believe I could spend forever. Maybe, maybe not, but I'm certainly hoping for the former. We'll see.
And tomorrow is the holiday concert at my high school. I debated as to whether or not I should go, but I feel as if it is the right decision. I need to see some people who have been out of my sphere for far too long. And what will I find? Will I find that we are all irreversibly changed? Undoubtedly. Will I find that some things have remained the same? I can only hope. Either way, it should be an interesting night.
Enough of an update on my sick-sad life. It will continue, regardless of how diligent I am in recording it. So it goes.

Powell...disagreeing with Bush...who'd have thought?

A truthout article posted this morning goes a long way toward reiterating the position that former Secretary of State Colin Powell took before his resignation in January 2005. It is somewhat relieving to know that some things do not change.
Rather than agreeing with his former boss on the situation in Iraq, Gen. Powell once again has looked for the right solution to the problem, siding instead with the results of the Iraq Study Group which has determined that a "surge" of troops as suggested by Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) would do nothing to alleviate the problem and has advocated the phased withdrawal called for by most Democrats on the hill.
And what does Bush have to say about all this? The same as usual: "The insurgency in Iraq is not a civil war." Thank you, Mr. President. What is it then, a tea party?
The article, if you take the time to read, highlights the lack of freshly available troops to be sent to Iraq. Rather, a "surge" by Ms. DeYoung's reporting includes keeping already-deployed troops at their posts beyond their original assignments and bringing back those veterans who have already served a tour or more outside the Green Zone for a little more foot-time with the dead horse.
I do disagree in part with Gen. Powell's response to the Syria/Iran question. I agree that either state would be loathe to help our country at this juncture, due to sour relations between all; however, I believe that those states, if approached appropriately and with due respect, would be willing to set aside their personal differences to approach a peaceful solution and return stability to Iraq. I also disagree with Gen. Powell's disdain for these two states. True, they may be engaging in activities with which our government does not agree. Let it be said, though, that most of our activities over the past three years have not been a source for agreement among any in the international community - except to say that we have overstepped our bounds. I believe it is time for this country to learn humility and to accept the fact that we are not the international watchdogs.
In fact, we may no longer be an international superpower if we continue to invest all of our assets into an unwinnable war. It's time to step up and let the Middle East take care of its own.