Proof that Josh does not go against his word:

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/ishmaella/smile.jpg.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/ishmaella/pretty.jpg

"It's so peaceful that my eyes slide off!"

Thank you, Rose.

The story on why I'm shrinking:

It's my own damn fault.

One of the reasons is because I hate milk, so I apparently have weaker bones. The rest of the story is more interesting. I don't really sleep enough, what with working my way through college. It turns out that this has actual, tangible effects on my long-term health, one of which is the shrinking. When you're asleep, or at least lying down, your spine decompresses. When your spine doesn't decompress, it starts to grind a little bit. Or so I was told.

There's also one more maybe-reason that was mentioned. My weight went down a lot last fall. I've managed to put most of what feels like normal weight to me back on. (A difference of 40 lbs). Although I have a large skeletal build, I am still "overweight"...okay...the weight that I gained back this spring is apparently pulling too hard on my weak bones, also causing shortness.

So, between all of this, I apparently need to lose 40 lbs again, by exercise, since malnutrition is ten kinds of not-fun, and also find time to spend eight hours a day in bed. Damn it. Maybe I can deal with shrinking instead?

I'm not delusional, and this has nothing to do with lack of sleep. I'm shrinking. I'm down to 5'7" (The last time I checked myself was last summer, 5'8" then).

This might sound obnoxious, but I'm a little worried. I don't drink milk, but I was sure I got enough calcium. But losing an inch, especially at 21, seems a little extreme to just be laughed off. I think I might actually call Mark and talk to him about this...

I have officially sold some of my artwork. I know it's not that great, but it makes me feel good that someone liked it enough to give me money for it. Smile meter just went up another few points.

Life is good. I'm done with school for the summer, I got an A. (The prof told me as I was leaving.) I'm calling one of the grad schools I was invited to attend tomorrow, to see if my invitation would still stand, if I were to choose not to finish my philosophy degree. I'm pretty sure I'm done with Hartwick philosophy, but I think I'd like to earn my Ph.D for it at some point. While I know this is no walk in the park, I don't think I'd have too much trouble, as both McFarlane and Rocknak had no doubt that I would breeze (comparatively) through the thesis.

It might seem like a waste of time to the rest of you, but since I want to work for the FBI, I don't think I'm overqualifying myself. They like over-educated people. So, I have this next year to get my grades up, and hopefully I'll do the internship there summer of 2008.

The waters are receding, I'm all moved in and in a flutter of domesticity (Liz is coming over to bake pies and make fried chicken with me today), school is done, and someone very special has walked back into my life. I needed a pick-me-up, but this is like...never mind, I won't describe it. Josh already told me I'm dopey.

Working is rough, but it'll be a lot easier with no school work except thesis prep. I'm only working 4 jobs this summer, for a rough total of about 90 a week. That's down from last summer, but I'm spoiling myself a little this year.

I got a new cell phone, and my dad, as usual, went above and beyond. He asked what kind of phone I wanted, I said I really didn't care, but a flip phone would be nice, so it wouldn't get all scratched up in my pocket. He, of course, got me a camera-phone, so watch out! I've been playing with it.

Life is good.