And the darkness swallows up the land....

Unpleasant things:

--Late night phone conversations with one's uncle trying to decide whether or not to call the ambulance for one's grandmother.

--Waking up with a headache.

--Not being able to contact friends.

--Screwing up the video output of one's DVD player in an attempt to negotiate PAL/NTSC differences, and not being able to fix it.

With these lists, I begin to feel like Sei Shounagon.

Okay, I *am* Sei Shounagon.

Pleasant things:

--Fixing one's DVD player and improving upon its prior programming so that it is not only regionless but plays either PAL or NTSC discs just fine.

--Watching the Anthony Andrews version of The Scarlet Pimpernel twice in a row.

--Wearing a red sarong in the middle of winter and being perfectly comfortable.

--Talking with an old friend.

--Plans to meet more friends for dinner.

--Receiving an (admittedly color oversaturated) wall scroll of the costume you plan to compete with and finding that it has lots of details visible.

--Taking a personal day off of school and vanquishing the evil laundry pile.

--Being in love and anticipating the days to come with your lover.