Only 4 more days away.

It seems everyone is starting to become excited about me leaving for college. Yesterday, my family got together to have kind of a last get together before I left to my new home in Columbus. There, everyone went down the list of their favorite "Jeffrey memories." Even thinking about them now makes me smile. Everyone is so proud of me and it feels great to have their support. Now, more than ever, I feel like I have people behind me no matter what.

I, myself, feel the day getting closer and I am becoming more anxious. What was a month away, now is a few days and I am trying to get everything that I can. I have a bad feeling that I am forgetting something but, like my roommate Franklin says, "Everyone feels that way." I am going to start packing my things tomorrow, just so that nothing is at the last minute. I think my computer will be the last things to be seat in a box.

I can't believe I'm leaving. It's just, not something I could ever fathom but at the same time, something I have wanted for so long. I just hope everything goes smoothly.

In other news. I have three webcameras now. Time to give one away.

Well, you know I am bored out of my mind when I start updating my site every few days. Trust me, it won't be happening for long.

I finally got to speak to all of my roommates. Those guys are seriously had to catch up with but I'm glad I got a chance to speak to them. They all seem pretty cool so I am crossing my fingers that none of us have any problems with each other...yeah, I know it's unlikely but here's to wishful thinking. Two of them are athletes that play every single sport invented (except for ping pong). But don't count them as being as dumb as the OSU football team (just kidding), they are going to be very busy with the amount of work they have. My 3rd roommates seems kind of quiet and reserved but I could be wrong. I will be arriving early with one of my roommates. The other two come about 3 days later.

In other news, I am completely broke. Well, not completely. I really wish I was receiving some type of money because I don't know how the hell I am going to be paying for things I need for school, like clothes! I guess I will be looking like a bum and freezing my ass of during winter.

I am going to seeing one of my favorite artists in concert on Sunday. Coming with the Sprite Liquid Mix Tour will be N.E.R.D., The Roots, and my boy Talib Kweli. Can't wait to see him live because he is great on CD. I have to thank Carmen for coming through with tickets. What was a concert that we would be sitting on the grass became a concert that we are 6 rows from the stage.

He's a father!

On Saturday, September 30th, my hamster Cosette gave birth to about 10 baby hamsters. I would have given him a cigar but we don't like smoking in the house. I awoke Saturday morning to get ready for my show at the zoo and I was just checking up on Cosette (I knew she was pregnant) to see if she had delivered or not. At first glance, it looked like she still had the kids up in there but then I looked and saw a small pup near her food bowl. She had given birth that night. Marius is a father.

Now in the past, when my hamsters would have children, I wasn't a very good "Grandfather." I would often want to touch them or look at them and constantly disturb the mother. Unfortunately, if a mother is bothered too much or if her pups have another scent on them, she will eat them and that was what would happen. Not this time around. I have not touched her or the children and they seem to be doing fine. As soon as I can get some photos of the brood, I will.

In other news, I had my final show with Mosaic Youth Theatre on Saturday at the Detroit Zoo. I also got to perform with my good friends Carmen and Gabriel. It was a good time but I think we are all glad it is finally over. We had a lot of fun but I will miss performing.

After the show, we went over our friend Alex's house for a little get together that she had planned. She lives on a lake so we got to ride on their boat and even power up with some jet skis. After, we ate burgers and taco salad. The Ohio State University was playing Washington for their first game so I was glued to the TV for a while. Everyone else wanted to go bowling so they dragged me away and we went. Fortunately, the game was on at the alley so I was watching it. Alex won the first game, I had won the second.

All in all, it was a nice weekend. I can't wait to start school though. September 18!

Well wasn't this a nice little day. I wouldn't say that it started out bad but it didn't start the way I planned either. I had to take my Grandmother to the doctor which I have no problems in doing. But man, I had to wake up at 7 in the morning. I haven't done that all summer. It took here there, sat in the car for about 2 hours and then brought her back home. No big deal. It was nice spending time with her. She thought I was annoyed by her but I really wasn't. I love spending time with my grandmother because she is such a great person to be around. Just listening to her hum to the music that I play brings a smile to my face.

I went shopping for a few things that I needed to for my trip down south to Ohio State. Unfortunately, my mother is making me pay for all of my necessities but it is my fault. If I would have had a graduation party, I wouldn't have this problem. It's just that parties scare me. I hate being center of attention especially at events like that. I guess the real thought is, "What if no one shows up." So to avoid all of that, I decided not to have one. It sounds pointless but that's how I felt and still do, scared.

I got a call today from a lady that had interviewed me over the phone about a job as a student assistant. Well, I got the job. I was very excited about that, but was even more cool was the fact that she wanted me to work under her. I must have given a very good interview for that to happen. I am not sure when I start but I am sure it's when my OWL duties are finished. This is going to be a great experience.

Just a small update today. Today I did get to hang with Carmen and it was a lot of fun. I went over her house at about 11 this morning and we watched a movie, Chasing Amy. Great film by a great man, Kevin Smith. His movies forces a person to think and I love that. While the movie was on, I gave Carmen a Henna tattoo of a butterfly. It will look very nice on her. After that, she gave me my gifts from Puerto Rico. One was a notepad made of leather that is made on the Island. It is beautiful. The second was a poster for the upcoming movie, Matrix: Revolutions. She said she bought it for me to hang in my dorm room.

When the movie was done, we went to the movies to see Freddy Vs. Jason. This was my second time seeing it but it was still as good as the first. Watching Carmen jump was hilarious. She liked the movie like I knew she would.

In other news, my hamster Cosette is pregnant (yep, she gave it up). I went to the pet store today to buy another cage for her and her chilin'. I am hoping she is old enough to take care of them because if she isn't she could eat them. Her new home isn't like her hold 2 story home. Marius is going to have a nice little bachelor(sp?) pad. She has a one story house but with the wheel and everything. Cost me 20 dollars but this time I am going to be responsible with my animals.

Dominique left almost a week ago. Steven leaves for school today. Sad time it is but not so sad. Carmen returned from Puerto Rico yesterday. It was a great feeling to talk to her again. I hate being without my buddy. She and I will hang out tomorrow since she has the day off of school.

The day is coming closer, in fact the day has moved up from its position. Instead of leaving and moving in my dorm on Sunday, September 21st. I will be moving in on Thursday, September 18. Maybe I should start from the beginning..

When I first got my housing application, I applied to be an OWL (OSU Welcome Leader). An OWL assists students in moving in to their dorms and makes things a little easier on freshmen. At first, I didn't think they were going to give it to me but today, along with my housing information, came a letter telling me that I was selected to be an OWL. With this position also comes the opportunity of moving in 3 days earlier than everyone else. I will be posted at my own dorm to help people move in. OSU is getting closer.

I also got my housing information today. I will be staying in the Blackburn House which is located on North Campus. Time to do a little explaining.

There are three places at Ohio State that dorms are located on. You have South Campus, North Campus and West Campus. West Campus is the location of two towers, Lincoln and Merrill Tower. They are the most expensive from what I've heard. South Campus is generally where all the freshmen stay. They are very large buildings that have corridor (everyone uses them) bathrooms and things like that. They are the cheapest. Then you have North Campus. These are the air conditioned dorms that are smaller and in the middle as far as expenses go. If you want parties, they happen in South Campus. If you want peace and quiet, then that's North Campus. The only reason I am in North Campus is because I wanted to be apart of a living-learning program called MUNDO (Multicultural Understanding through Non-traditional Discovery Opportunities).

I will be sharing a room with three other people. Two are from Cincinnati and the other is from Washington D.C. I am anxious to see how the four of us will get a long in this space. The rooms aren't small but they aren't big enough for four guys. And with one shower, it will be interesting to see how bathroom duties take effect. Not to mention how clean the dorm room will be. I can't wait to meet them. All I know is that I want a bottom bunk!

I am also hoping that I get the job of a student assistant. They are the people you see in the dorms that issue keys to people and sort mail when it arrives at the dorm. If I get this job then I think I will be set for the year. I haven't even started at Ohio State and I am involved.

Well, one by one, my friends are beginning to depart this city and either return to college or arrive there for the very first time. Dominique no longer IM's me from Detroit. She is now in her dorm at Ball State University. Man, I am starting to feel like an outcast of sorts. I mean, yes, I am going to college but almost a month later than everyone else. It would seem I would be happy about this little extended vacation but I am ready to go. I'm sure I will regret my anxiety once I begin my classes at OSU.

I am starting to miss my friends. Not just the ones who went off for their higher education. I miss Carmen a lot. Since she is in Puerto Rico, I can see her or even call her. I can't wait until Sunday when she returns. Even more, I can wait until Monday because I am heading over her house as soon as she gets home from school. I would have never thought that her being gone would effect me so much, but the girl is my best friend. How could I not expect it? I think when she gets back, she and I will go eat at Cosi and then catch a movie. I am going to probably hug her and never let go...or just wait until she pushes me off of her, which ever comes first. Damn ...I think she and I are going to be friends for the rest of our lives. If not, I am going to make sure that we are.

My dull days, however, will be coming to an end with the things I have coming up. I still have a final show to do with Mosaic at the zoo and then I am officially cut away from the organization. I am also going with my friend Araz to make a movie tomorrow. It will definitely be interesting. I also have to go shopping for things I will need in school. Unfortunately, my mother is making me spend my own money, which is only 200 dollars. Heh, lets see how far that gets me because when I run out, guess who is paying? My friend Alex is also having a party next weekend. Thank god because I miss a lot of the people that will be there. Ugh, I am having senior moments and I am a freshmen!

Well, I'm out, keep looking to the stars.

I am in this strange time where I have nothing to do. My job at the Detroit Free Press ended more than a week ago and since this is one of the worst summers to find work for a teenager, I am not even going to try. For a while, I looked for freelance work but I knew no one was going to hire me for that straight out of high school. Maybe I need to just relax for the rest of my time here in Detroit.

Other things are strange too. All of my friends are beginning to leave for school. A lot of them make their journeys this or next week and I will be remaining here for another month. Because Ohio State runs on quarters and not semesters, they begin their school year a month later than everyone else. I am just glad that Carmen isn't going to college or else I would have really felt my brain deteriorate. She is in Puerto Rico right now visiting her family. She returns home Sunday and I cannot wait. I never though I would miss her so much. But until then, I can write.

I am very excited about my future at Ohio State. No one knows the thrill I got when I saw it for the first time at orientation. Isn't that funny? I decided to go to a school whole heartedly and never even saw it. But from day one, I knew that this was the perfect school for me. Unfortunately, it is going to cost me a lot of money to attend. I am looking for scholarships though...well more scholarships I should say. But in all honesty, the school is just amazing. Walking on the oval and seeing all the images that, until then, I had only seen through the screen of my computer gave me such a feeling of ownership. Like, this was my school. My school. After a year of debating what was more important, money or my happiness, I was happy with my decision. I used to be afraid of leaving home and everything I knew but visiting the school took all of that away and it was replaced by and anxious excitement. I can't wait to see who I will be rooming with and what type of people I will meet, but until then, I will me in Detroit. Waiting. Good luck to everyone heading away, I will have my day soon.