I should be sitting in studio right about now, claiming my desk, unpacking my tools, ready to face another stressful semester. Instead, I'm sitting on my old bed in my parents house in New Jersey, in limbo.

Over the past few days, I have discovered that I am profoundly allergic to Bea's rapidly-reproducing hamsters. They have since been banished to the porch until I leave the day after tomorrow. This change of scenery seems to have had no effect on their over-active sex drives.

I have also started working on puzzles. Perhaps I am ready to leave.