these past few days...my sleeping time has become later and later. i'm averaging an 11 am wakeup, with a lazy-sorta studying throughout the afternoon, but i suddenly wake up at 6 pm, and then do a lot of productive studying from then until...well, it's a bit embarrassing to admit, but until 5 am. probably you think that's crazy, but....i've read that people have awake peaks at different times during the day. some people are morning people, some peak evening. i guess i'm a nocturnal brand. but studying throughout most of the night and into the next day - makes me realize how many hours are spent sleeping in the most interesting, curious, and "twilight zone-like" hours of the day. it's a strange feeling, doing a lot of work, and reading, and thinking, and being totally clear on what you're thinking about, when you know most of the country - save for other studying people, eccentrics who switch their day and night-time hours, graveshifters - is asleep. and maybe it's that thought - that everyone else is sleeping - that gives me that calm sense, that i can take my time, and do everything i need to do, undisturbed, and not scheduled in by lunch and dinner, or library closing hours or bus schedules...and that 4 pm low....

on the other hand, it's probably biological. still, i can't wait until all of this intensive do nothing BUT study is over, so i can get my sleep back on track. and read other books. i just ordered the pound era by hugh kenner, and elizabeth costello, by coeztlee. i called my mom a few hours ago, and she was making me all excited - by telling me about the shopping we'd do, the trips to the price club for life-size boxes of ferrero rochers...i was thinking that i really want to go ice skating. my parents put me and my brother in skating lessons when we were young, and now i really miss the smell of the rink. mmmmm...sniff. i miss skiing too. the thrill of it, and going crazy in the snow. once i'm out of here (graduated, i mean), skiing's the first thing on my list. until then, i abstain due to possible limb injuries....(ugh! and sigh!). i was even contemplating a quick side tirp to cuba, or whatever other cheap and warm destination there is this winter. HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE!

The toronto symphony is putting out $10 Handel's Messiah tickets on sale at 9 am monday - so i'm getting my bro to do the transaction. if i'm lucky (it's for tsoundcheck), i'll get to see the messiah on thursday night...OF THIS VERY WEEK! (hallelujah to that).

ok....we press on....