Wow, I always like it when I come here and read things that truly make me happy, like a friend expressing their friendship and such. That's something that doesn't happen as often here anymore with a reduced posting role. It's weird, because I've seen the danger of internet friendships in that oftentimes when people get into the community it seems like they say nice things about each other just because it's easy to do, and it's a good way for people to think you're nice. Do you know what I mean? Like, it's almost like people need to hear good things about themselves, and a lot of people aren't getting that enough in their everyday lives, so by coming here they get it, but only sort of. I don't know if it's a comment on our culture, surroundings, or what, but it's interesting. At any rate, my point is that I've tried to acknowledge that that is really easy to do, to say "wow, you're great and I think you're an awesome person" to someone online who I barely know, and really can't justify saying that to. So I only try to compliment people when I feel they truly deserve it, and I look for that from my friends here, too. The upshot of this is that when I see you write something that tells me my friendship is appreciated, it feels very genuine and meaningful, and not superficial at all, and thus makes me very happy. Thanks.

Did any of that make any sense? Anyway...

So true, so true. I have your postcards on my bulletin board, and I see them every day. Whenever a friend comes over and sees them, I proudly say, "Those are from my friend when he took a trip around the world. Aren't they great? Isn't it cool that he thought of me, and sent them?" And then I think, good god I haven't talked to that boy in forever! I need to catch him up on everything cause, well, so much has happened. And I suspect you think the same thing, yes? And then you know, we just don't. Bah - that's not good. How about a deal - we actually start e-mailing again, eh? Yeah.

Well, I can promise one or two in the next couple of weeks, but I'm about to go treeplanting, which involves living in the bush for 6 out of 7 days of the week for two months. Hence, limited access to computers. But I'll be back in July. Hey! Are you, by any chance, thinking of going to the big gathering in Michigan in August? I'm going. If not, that stop is one along my bigger trip out East. Depending on how things go, I might be by the southern US. That would be neat, eh? It's kind of funny that I'm a friend of yours who has sent you postcards, but I've never actually talked to you or met you. Anyway, it's a possibility.

Oh, and an interesting note on my friend that just came back from England - she has a hardcore English accent! That's so strange! She's been there two years, of course, but when she came back for Christmas in 2002 there wasn't even a hint of an accent. Apparently, she's only been hanging out with English people since then, but still that's so weird. I wonder what makes people develop their dialects like that... I should learn more about these things.

Uh oh, I've gotta get back to work. Apparently, I have to make up 70 hours of research assistant work by the end of the month, because they've already paid me. Fun, fun, fun...

Cory