my friends tasha and geoff just left after a lovely weekend visit. they're both incredible and incredibly gifted at telling it the way it really is. tasha (who is herself writing a dissertation -- on 20th af.-am. pulp fiction -- and will certainly have a completely bad-ass job at this time next year) listened as i mocked my own efforts and seemed sympathetic when i bemoaned what seems like my innate inability to write a dissertation at any kind of reasonable pace. but then she looked me in the eye and commanded: "get in the game bruder! i mean you gotta GET IN THE GAME." and then instead of leaving it at that, she kindly read my alcott mess and politely told me to get over myself and get it in the bag. for the first time in months, i feel like getting in the game again. thanks tasha (and thank you geoff for understanding what it would mean to drop out now). this is why i love my friends.