TWO THINGS

1) Something inside me is bleeding again, and over the past 24 hours I've gotten paler and paler and generally more exhausted. It's weird this time, it started with a horrible headache which has not gone away. And then abdomnial pain, as per usual. I think this entire issue can be chalked up to how liberal I am. (get it, get it, bleeding heart liberal, get it)

2) I spent almost the entire day today watching episodes of America's Best Dance Crew on my lappy. I have no idea why I care or even how I got there.

3) Chad sent in the appraisal. We were under contract for our second offer, which was 112k. Bank appraised the house for -- wait for it -- 112k. Which means,

I had a messed up dream last night, where I got charged with a DUI while I was driving sober (which is how I always drive). The police had me take a breathalyzer test and I apparently blew .993%. To put that in perspective, when you reach 0.40%, you will be dead.
So I got really upset and tried to tell them that their equipment had to be faulty, absolutely, and that they should subject me to other sobriety tests if they really thought I'd been drinking. But they arrested me anyway. I kept waking up and freaking out thinking, "omfg am I in jail?"

It was weird.

DUDE.
The tech that Dell sent over to replace my display (hopefully that'll work) is a Magistrate for Durham. WHICH IS SO COOL. We like, talked criminal justice and veteran support and OMG IT WAS SO AWESOME.

He gave me his card, which means I have like, VIP access to the Durham court system to see how it works and whatnot. I AM EXCITED, THIS IS NEAT.

Now I'm going to take a nap.

I had an idea. (UH OH)

Drinking age. It's my general understanding that college leaders are getting into the mix primarily because of their concern with binge drinking among their students. And it has been my experience -- you know, just stuff I've heard -- that most college kids drink, whether or not they're 21.

So... WHAT IF: The legal drinking age would drop to 18 -- ONLY for those either serving in the military or attending college (4-year?). Otherwise, kids are stuck until they're 21. I'd toy with the idea that more kids would consider higher education and work towards that as a goal. This could also impact the cost of a college education (positively?). And, an increase in volunteers for the military would effect the impact of war upon more families, i.e., constituents -- and thus, politicians. As it stands, a lot of 18-year-old kids joining up are those with few other options. The kids who HAVE options and CHOOSE not to take advantage of them would also be CHOOSING to forego their privilege to buy alcohol for an extra three years. The freshmen who jump into college and get TOTALLY WASTED to the point of alcohol poisoning as part of a social scene would suddenly be much less interesting.

The tentative idea of it makes me feel a little better. Less drunken rednecks and silver spoons drivin' around my highways.

Also, tornadoes are attacking Durham again. Thanks Fay.

And, instead of posting to my CCO forum at 11:59, I posted at 5:07. K THX I R AHEAD.

Um, OKAY. Remember the Michael Peterson case, that writer in Raleigh who killed his wife like, seven years ago?

"Larry Pollard says he believes an owl, possibly mistaking Kathleen Peterson as prey, could have attacked the 120-pound, 47-year-old as she walked from her swimming pool to her kitchen on that warm December night in 2001."

Apparently, someone found a feather.

“Now, at first when you hear that, it sounds ridiculous, except when you look at the wounds, when you look at the fact that these birds are in our neighborhood and that they have been there for years and years and years," he said. "That they have this kind of characteristics of their talons that they do this kind of damage."

Source: WRAL

CNN.com thinks we should talk about lowering the drinking age. Let's do that.

Now, at 21, I don't know that I really matter much in this debate. But whatever. I spent 21 years being not 21.

In my mind, the problem is not in purchasing, but in distribution. Anyone who says that 21+s don't provide <21s with alcohol is apparently brain-dead. Go visit a college.

( Here's the ultimate list of NC's liquor laws... )

Here's my half-baked idea with a bunch of holes in it. Keep the purchasing age for alcohol at 21. Posession, though, at 18. That makes the 21+ at least halfway responsible for the actions of the 18 to 20-year-olds whom they provide with booze. Because, really, the kids are going to drink whether it's illegal or not. It's kind of like, I dunno, abstinence pledges...

Anyway, if enforced, one might give more of a shit when giving their underage friends alcohol. And kids under 18, at least in this country... seriously?

The whole "you have all the responsibility of an adult but you can't drink" argument is weird. 18-year-olds in North Carolina can get themselves some shotguns and chill. Some of them will join the military and come back all PTSD'd. While there are SEVERAL responsible 18-year-olds I know, generally, I don't like the idea of all or any of the other 18-year-olds with whiskey in one hand and their shotgun in the other.

Whatever. I'm 21. See, once you get old, you really DON'T care about the little people!! At least not till you have kids. Theoretically.

I suck.


Also, today was the first day of school and holy shit why do all underclassmen look the same?
That's right, I went there. KEEP YOUR INDIVIDUALITY, KIDS!