Things that suck (in no particular order):

1) All this talk about the looming depression. Really, I'm pessimistic enough without hearing about a global financial meltdown every 5 seconds.

2) PMS. Just when I think I can't get any moodier.

3) Birthdays. Grim reminder of your own mortality. Also, if there is no cake involved, then there is no sugar high to lift the spirits (even if it is temporarily).

4) Overactive imaginations. I know, I know - the world would be lame if no one had an imagination. But we're talking about imagination intensified and out of control. And trust me, it does suck.

5) The ol' 9 to 5. Money's great, but being stuck in a box with few windows, florescent lights, and mindless tasks isn't exactly good for maintaining a positive state of mind.

I would advise anyone considering replacing a regular dinner drink with something along the lines of vodka to think twice before doing so. Especially if one plans on being quasi-productive the next day. Although, if it's the start to a holiday weekend and there is basically no reason not to be hungover, go for it. What else is there to do?

I know I'm kind of late to the whole "Gossip Girl" game. Sure, it's been a "phenomenon" for like 6 months or whatever, but I couldn't be bothered to watch it until like 3 episodes ago. And so it began — the crazy infatuation one only feels for something as stupid as a TV show. But something plagues me: What is the deal with Chuck? Really. Like that coat last night. It was blindingly orange. Who wears that? And I'm not even adequately conveying this garment — it was straight up ridiculous. And even though I know he was all date rapey earlier this season, I still kind of like Chuck. He's intriguing!

Oh, also, I dropped out of grad school. Not sure if this is just going to be a temporary thing or what, but judging from the way my motivation quickly lost any sort of fuel I probably won't be going back for some time. And just what did I get out of my 3 months as a graduate student? Well I'm so glad you asked!

1) Even more student loan debt! Because the fact that the numbers had started to dwindle was really just too much for me. Who doesn't love debt?!

2) A MacBook. Of course, I could have just gotten this on my own. And it is directly related to No.1 on the list, as I considered it an "educational expense." And what could be more educational than filling hours upon hours with watching YouTube videos and reading Craigslist? Nothing! It's almost like actually having a life!

3) A profound need to warn everyone against web-based courses. They didn't work in undergrad, so God knows why they would work in Master's level coursework. So naive! So filled with hope and delusion! And so wrong.

4) All of the work-avoidance of undergrad with none of the excitement. Of course going to college the first time around is fun. Who doesn't like binge drinking and never going to class, all on the government's and your family's dime? But when you mix actual coursework with actual work work, things get a little hairy. And by hairy, I mean you probably don't even start a 4,000 word paper until, oh maybe 2 days before the deadline. And by then, it's pretty much a matter of time before you throw in the towel. Or actually do the assignment. But in the grand Corey tradition, I chose the former.

I saw the most wacked out bumper sticker EVER the other day. It featured the phrase "Relax! God is in control," which seems innocuous enough. But then as I caught a clearer glimpse, the whole operation started to unravel. Beside the text was a pair of penguins accompanied by what was either 1) the sun, 2) a lion, or 3) a goldfish. I think that in any of these three scenarios, the sticker still holds its own in the crazy arena. Why penguins? Really? For marketability, maybe? In any case, the sticker has been haunting me ever since, not because of the religious message, but because of the illustration. Just trust me when I say it was pretty trippy.

Do you ever find yourself strangely drawn to what is possibly the ugliest stuff when shopping? I found myself in this situation today. When at Target horrendously striped turtlenecks and bizarre jumpers called out to me. Luckily, I had a grand total of $8.50 to spend, and these items were surprisingly out of my price range. Is it desperation to spend some cash, or is there something truly appealing about these items? Maybe it's something on the subconscious level, though I'd be willing to bet it's just boredom manifesting itself in the form of careless spending. Yeah, I've totally run out of things to do today.

Yesterday, between flight delays and actual flights, I realized something: Lucky magazine kind of sucks. Actually, it really does. The December issue was over 300 pages in length, but only held about 50 pages of substance (if you even want to call it that). Basically, it's one enormous advertisement occasionally surrounded by words. And not one article. Really. No articles. The one "interesting" thing about Lucky is the page of stickers for marking things you've just got to have. But after marking, oh i don't know, three items the stickers lost the allure that led me to purchase the publication in the first place. It's kind of like Lucky is the catalog for people who don't actually like catalogs. Seriously. There is even a section with discounted products especially for Lucky readers. Ugh. Never again.

Sometimes I really wish I had TiVo. I keep missing the season premiere of "Project Runway" like everyday that it comes on, so I'm kind of becoming more and more obsessed with trying to catch it. Unfortunately, I'm at work during most of the reshowings, and for some reason I seriously doubt my boss would be cool with handing over the remote so I could watch a gaggle of designers and a bitchy Heidi Klum.

In other news (and I use this term very loosely), I'm off to Florida tomorrow to visit my mother and the rest of the gang. Even my grandmother is going to be there, so it's guaranteed to be a nonstop nagfest. It'll be good to have a break from the sudden cold thats taking over N.C., though. I totally understand those retirees people call snowbirds. They know where its at.