It isn't terribly often in life that one can quote Loverboy and feel justified. This is one such time, though, and I feel I can get away with it. So, everybody's workin' for the weekend. No lie. I can't wait for the weekend. It's going to be studious, I'm sure, but I just don't want to be in classes anymore. There ought to be a break after midterms, not at the one month mark!

Today was normal as far as classes go. I just didn't really want to be in the classroom today. After class I ran an errand and then went to lunch with some classmates. I think there were more Indonesians than anyone else at the table. Just a Korean, Filipino, Swede, and me along with three Indonesians.

Oh, by the by, super-big thanks shout-out goes to the crew back at home. Thanks for the birthday cards! Admittedly I opened them earlier than my birthday, but I think you'll permit me. And I don't know how you could change the fact now, honestly. Anyway, they were a total surprise, and they made my day! I promise I'll read them all again on Saturday and make surprised faces. The one marked do not open until Dec. 25 is in my safe, and I have not opened it.

On birthday notes, I don't know what has been planned to celebrate my arrival at the legal drinking age in the U.S. (which is utterly meaningless everywhere else). I think my classmates have something up their sleeves--probably a cake--and I'm marginally nervous because the prof said something about it almost being my birthday today. What kind of set-up is class tomorrow? Also, my friends, I guess, are doing some planning. I've no idea what it will be, though. I offered very little suggestion other than "No strippers, no booze, and I don't want to sit at home."

I need to do some laundry.

T