I write/ and write, and transcend/ nothing, escape/ nothing, nothing/ is truly born from me,/ yet magically it's better/ than nothing

I've been wanting to start a blog since August, ever since I began graduate school at Georgetown. I'm not sure why I waited so long. I guess that although I've been nearly bursting at the seams with feelings of what I can only think to describe as a type of mania--an extreme and unrelenting sense of elation--those feelings have also prevented me from writing anything down. In other words, I've been suffering from sensory overload, from too many good things occurring all at once. The result has been that those feelings--until now--have pretty much transcended any type of (human) articulation. For one reason or another though, tonight I'm finally able--and willing--to harness those squeals and spasms of delight into...real words.

Over the past two months, it's become more and more apparent that a Master's program in English literature is more a lifestyle choice than an academic means to an end. It's only November and I've already presented my first conference paper, spent more than a handful of "happy hours" talking about literary cannon, seen four productions at the Shakespeare Theater Company, and met some of the most wonderful and wacky English majors I could have ever hoped to meet. Basically, the term "graduate school" has come to mean anything entailing a combination of good literature, good wine, and good people.

And even though I'm having the time of my life, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to going home for Thanksgiving and seeing friends and family (and eating turkey and obscene amounts of pumpkin pie).

There have been a good deal of personal demons that I've spent the last year working hard to overcome/come to terms with, and I can't even begin to explain how incredible it feels to finally be able to wake up each morning and feel happy and strong and confident; in truth, a year ago I would not have thought that these feelings were possible; heck, a year ago, Georgetown wasn't even on the table, let alone finishing my senior year. But, somehow, I'm here and I've done it.

I'm excited to see what else is in store.