I am a pair of heavy heavy eyelids...

Separation Anxiety...
It's been only a few days since I've locked myself up and thrown away the key and I seriously feel like I've been separated from the world. This whole studying bit is really starting to take its toll on me, in that I feel like I have not had any social interaction, save the few run-ins I've had w/ people over the course of this week thus far, namely, V visiting the other day and seeing a few of my friends during my WABL basketball game(WHICH we lost...and by a lot too...btw), and the friend I saw @ Starbucks today. I have not come onto the web very much, except for the occasional e-mail session and blog-reading break(when I'm home). I have not even answered my cell phone(not that I get many calls in the first place), save for 2 or 3 people that happened to call impeccably during my study break or when I'm in my car or something. Even then, those conversations were short-lived and non-explorative because of my ever-depleting timetable until my test. But through all the non-hanging out and non-phone talking, and non-im'ing, I would have to say that the non-im'ing bit has hit me the hardest. I was not aware of how accustomed I had become to AIM and the whole IM world until I holed myself up so that I could hopefully be more productive and efficient w/ the little study time I have left for my exam this weekend. I really miss my AIM buddies...especially because since I've moved back home home, I think I've become more attached to my everyday ramblings with them. I don't have that many friends around here that I can hang out w/ because: 1) They don't live in LA, or 2) They are at work. So AIM has really been my connection to the world for the past month now. Funny how you can even take THAT for granted... So no friends, no nada... Man, what a loner I've become...how weird, I wouldn't have thought so, but it's a fact and it's crazy how much more intense it feels now that I've MADE it so that I'm alone. However, I think that it's done me some good as that during all my productive study time(yeah right), I've had the chance to think about things in my life...but I think I'm always doing that, so maybe that's a dumb realization and I'm just babbling cuz it's past 4AM and I'm still awake...what the heck am I thinking?

What's in a name?
I came across this article in today's, hmmm...scratch that, yesterday's issue of the Los Angeles Times. The article was regarding my place of residence, so I found it rather interesting. And here is an excerpt from said article:

"...The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to replace the term "South-Central Los Angeles" with "South Los Angeles" on city documents and signs, a move supporters said would help erase a stigma that has dogged the southern part of the city...."

Ha, South Los Angeles, doesn't have the same ring as South Central, but after thinking about it for a while, South Central does have a negative connotation to it, as people already said in the article. My area is geographically considered South Central, but I guess now will no longer be considered as such. He he he, I remember when one of my friend's mom used to drop me off at home after hanging out sometimes and she would lock all the doors and make sure we all rolled up our windows. I was pretty embarassed about it back then, but hey, not everyone has the luxury of living in the safest places and most asthetically pleasing neighborhoods in the world. I mean, there were some weird things that happened down and around my street, but hey, look I'm still here and that was a long time ago...I'm breaking off on a tangent here...where was I...oh yes, so, by being South Los Angeles, I guess all the negativity that was attached to that former name will slowly subside and hopefully(fingers crossed) become non-existent. THEN, better things will come. But hey, if just by changing a name can bring about THAT much change...then by all means, do it. Sometimes I think we'd have more important things to lay on the table than NAMES of places and things, but this is a perfect example that disproves any such thinking. Funny how strong a role words and names actually play in our society...kinda throws out that whole kiddy rhyme, "Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me." When I think about it, names and words can actually be more hurtful than physical pain.

A silver mini-ligning
An upside to the war in Iraq...seeing the reaction of the Iraqis when they "tasted their freedom" from generations of oppression. People kissing and offerring flowers to Coalition troops, people rejoicing when the Statue of Saddam was taken down, tears of joy and relief. Seeing all that made me realize that there is something positive goin on here...I couldn't imagine what it feels like to be oppressed as these people were...to be shot if you had anything negative to say against a regime such as the one that existed in Iraq. It's still all crazy and I still don't have a complete solid stance on this whole issue...but one thing's for sure, I support our people out there, and other peoples' people too, and I am happy for the Kurds and other once-oppressed people of this now war-torn part of the world.

Appreciations
-My FRIENDS DVD's seasons 1 through 3
-Blogs...it is an understatement to say that if it weren't for these handy dandy things, I would have "KNOW" idea what was goin on in some of my friends' lives
-Cups of coffee and the smiles that come with it
-Pleasant distractions...er surprises.
-Miles Davis. Ludwig Van Beethoven, Etta, and Ella
-People watching

"We must learn to live togeter as brothers or perish together as fools."
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.