an open letter to the University System of Georgia:

Oh—hey you. How is everything? I'm fine. Things are going well. About to graduate from college! Yay! But there are just some things I want to talk to you about. About some fees you find necessary to charge me.

I got this e-mail today, about how you're going to charge me an additional $100 in fees for the spring semester. Now, I was upset about this, but when I read the e-mail I found myself even more infuriated. It was particularly this bit that got me angry:

"As each of you is aware, the nation and Georgia are undergoing challenging economic conditions. Here in Georgia, state revenue collections are, through the end of October, down two percent over the previous year. Georgia, by its constitution, must operate a balanced budget."

Okay..

"In August, the Board of Regents took action to reduce current Fiscal Year 2009 operating budgets by six percent. In addition, the board approved in concept reduction plans totaling eight and ten percent. Economic indicators now make it clear that we must make a further reduction to the eight percent level. Accordingly, the regents met today and approved two of the steps it had previously adopted in concept, back in August."

Wait, what? What the fuck does that mean?

"I wanted to make you personally aware of the decisions that were made that directly affect you and will be implemented in January 2009. For the spring 2009 semester, each student will pay an additional temporary fee in order to maintain academic quality."

So in order to reduce the budget you want to charge me an additional $100? If this was not bad enough, I already had to pay more in fees this semester as my university, Georgia State, decided to take on a football stadium/team and Greek life [which includes building some frat houses on some prime real estate in sunny bum-laden downtown] and upped the "mandatory" fees per students.

Now, in all honesty, I should not really complain. I have the HOPE scholarship which basically gives me a free ride to any public college in Georgia. Unfortunately, with out such a scholarship I am not sure I could attend college. So, God bless HOPE. But the HOPE has stipulations, in that it will only cover a certain amount of the "mandatory" fees imposed by GSU. So those "mandatory" fees I was charged for Fall '08 came out of pocket. And additionally, I finally realized why I never get all of the money [$150: which roughly equals one and a half books, but that's a whole 'nother rant] allotted for textbooks. Because of that fucking lame stipulation, all the book money went to compensate the increase of fees that has steadily been occurring each semester I have been enrolled at GSU. So, fuck you guys.

And now you tell me that in an effort to reduce the budget you're going to charge me another $100? Come the fuck on! My scholarship that is basically supposed to pay for my entire undergraduate, collegiate career falls short, and now you want to charge me more money? The fuck?!

"By assessing this temporary fee during what are extraordinarily challenging budget times, we are reaching out to students and asking for your help in maintaining the academic quality you deserve. Our philosophy is keep tuition affordable, provide access and offer a quality education. Sacrificing that quality is never an option."

If you were really "reaching out to students" and trying to "provide access" to college you would lower tuition and fees, not raise them. And have you met my history teacher? The only quality she's representing is how to make history undeniably boring. Seriously, fuck you guys.

brazilian wacks

Hooray! Sleep-pants season has started! Now, let us Atlantans revel in this realization for the two months it will be "cold".

I had a dream I went to the junkyard and it was pretty empty. In the dream it looked like IKEA but was actually in some family's house. I found the location of the European cars but instead of Volvos or Mercedes there were boxes of Lego pieces and brand-new, boxed office chairs that swivel. They said they get new shipments every Tuesday, but it was Sunday. Hayley and I left as a child poured water from a watering can on my head.

the royal road.

I ride the subway from here to Chicago. Somehow we run into each other. We get to talking. Confidence swirls in spurts about my head. I say little, and we look at each other. She talks about the future wedding, and that she is sorry. I think she does that pouty lip thing she did when I knew her. "You don't think it's strange to go to that three weeks [months] after me?" "I do." She mentions something unborn. Her staunch stonewall falls in pieces about her. The possibility of it belonging to me. I ask her how she wants to handle it. She ignores the question, but I know she hears me. I have said my peace, and board the subway back to Atlanta.


I wake up refreshed with the closure I had to give myself.

"I think I am finally ready to move on."

I like that my cat always has to sit near me. Most of the time she's rather aloof and standoffish. But take for example what she's doing right now. I am at the computer, and she is laying down, [presumably] asleep next to the oven almost a foot and a half away from me. She always does this. As if by sleeping next to me she can maintain her independence but still obtain the security by being near me, her owner.

I like when she does this. It makes me feel wanted. I like my cats most of the time.



In other news: I just found frosting in my USB port. Questionable..

self-deprecation to follow:

I think that every relationship I have had with someone is a just a stepping stone for them to either fall in love with someone else or get engaged. Like my occupation in their life is a prelude to their self-satisfaction and relational well-being. I am a sort of bookmark while they get things together, and when it is over they're ready for the next step, the next big chapter of their lives.

Maybe I am just unwilling to grow up. Maybe this is my fault. Maybe if I made efforts to be more progressive in my relationships they wouldn't have ended. Maybe I have had too many "maybes" and not enough definite responses to advances in relational technology.


It is all very silly, I suppose. The only person I can honestly blame is myself. It is the only perspective I have, right now. And the only viewpoint I can knowingly critique.

So I will go do laundry at my sister's, today. And I will get up in the morning and go about my day as I normally would. But I will keep this with me. And I would just like to reserve this one, tiny moment for a little bit of wallowing. And to say that you never really blame yourself lest you be left to your own devices.

And I am. And I am.