I had an epiphany.

So this class I have that is about manifestos and bookbinding - obviously, our final project involves hand-binding our own books and filling them with our choice of manifesto. Ever since the topic was introduced, I have been racking my brain for something I could talk about, but couldn't decide; I have a lot of things that I feel strongly enough about to rant about for several pages. (Although admittedly, not all of them may be things that people would find interesting.)

Today, though, I had an awesome idea. It started today after Rai, my prof, gave a couple of examples of past students that had used the manifesto as an opportunity to inform people rather than persuading them, maybe to clear up misconceptions or stereotypes. So I got to thinking about this, and decided the best possible thing I could write about in that situation would both inform people about a (probably) unexpectedly common situation, and give me some major catharsis at the same time.

I am going to write my manifesto about abusive relationships, and how they are not usually as obvious as you might expect. And I'm going to use my own story to do so.

After I figured this out, I started brainstorming and in just a few minutes had come up with a long list of quotes and implications from my last relationship that could make up a cohesive graphic storyline. I've got ideas about how to set it up, what the drawings might look like, even what I'm going to call the thing.

It's going to be hard, admittedly. Some of the things I'm planning to put in there are things I never even mentioned to anyone because they were just too hard to say out loud or because it took me a long time to figure them out or admit them to myself.

But, I think this project could be the best thing I've done for myself in a long time.

I see potential here.

I just encountered a bright light in the bog of my day so far. Now I just hope it doesn't turn out to be a hinkypunk.

Said light is my first class of the semester, an English senior seminar entitled "Manifestos and Book Binding'. And I'm pretty sure it's going to be just as awesome as it sounds. Our final project is to make four copies of our personal manifesto and hand-bind it; it's more of an art class than an English class, which is fine with me, since all of the actual art classes on this campus are majors-only. Plus, I can probably use the cool scrapbooking supplies I have lying around.

On another note entirely, today has been fucking crazy in my head. I'm attempting to get into one English class that sounds cool and fulfills a requirement, which, if I get into it, will require me to drop a different class that conflicts with the time, which means I will have to take that class in the spring. This doesn't really bother me requirement-wise, since a t least ten variations on this class are offered every semester, but the one I was going to take looked like it would really helpful to me; it's called "What Am I Going To Do With My Life?" Which, you know, is fucking PERFECT for me right now.

Complicating this situation is this honors thesis I have to complete sometime this year, which I didn't realize I actually had to register for and not just talk to the dean about it. (Which I did.) so now I have to try and register for this "class" which it turns out requires prior permission, so now I have to call the honors department and figure out how exactly I would go about obtaining permission so I can register.

At least I know what my thesis is going to be. I'm going to research what necessities (availability, preservation, etc.) led to the distinctive ingredients used in various world cuisines. Of course, I'll have to include some recipes and try them out as part of the project!