But they always are. I just needed a title.

My time however, has been dominated by school work. I have 21 books and over 8,000 pages to read this semester. I don't know about you, but for me that's a lot. Plus the tests and five research papers. Right now I'm dedicated to finishing a 30+ page paper about Stanly County during the World War II era. I've learned lots of interesting things and am glad I chose it as my research project. For instance, right here in little ol' Stanly County we have a man who braved the shores of Normandy, a woman who lost her husband on Iwo Jima, a man, Mr. Ferebee, whose brother was on the Enola Gay (the plane that dropped the first atomic bomb—you can see his picture here in the Wikipedia article), and a man who survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which brought the US into WWII.

In the fall of 1941 and July 1942 there were military maneuvers in Stanly and the surrounding area. Hundreds of thousands of troops engaged in mock battles and practiced for their future combat overseas. General Patton was here, driving tanks and commanding missions, buying cokes in the little Red Cross Store a few miles from here. A small, rural county like Stanly contributed so much to the war, not only with military men, but the population as a whole. The mills and plants went all-out in war production. There were metal drives and victory gardens. Stanly County sent about 3,000 men to war. Ninety-one died.

I've learned so much over the past few months. After this semester is over I intend to continue this research, interviewing as many people as I can and digging through archives. I'm a nostalgist, so a project like this is ideal for me. I'm having trouble, though, because I'd like to talk to some African Americans (or anyone not White) and more women. If anyone reads this and knows someone, please let me know.

So, that's what I've been doing, and why I'm not online much. I'm looking forward to graduating, getting back to taking pictures, finding a job, and going to the beach. I miss Myrtle Beach and Nags Head.

So there I was, sitting at the computer drawing cow udders in MS Paint, minding my own business. All of a sudden I get a friendly instant message from a stranger:

paulftfw (8:35:08 PM): ur a pussy
Brian (8:36:24 PM): You must be a teenager.
paulftfw (8:36:32 PM): no im 19
paulftfw (8:36:42 PM): u must be a queer
Brian (8:36:44 PM): Ha!
Brian (8:36:53 PM): Well, then, you're still a teenager, my friend
Brian (8:37:11 PM): sharp as a tack, too, I see
paulftfw (8:37:20 PM): yea but im an adult who are u pussy and where u from
paulftfw (8:38:35 PM): are u a niger
paulftfw (8:38:56 PM): nigger
Brian (8:40:57 PM): you're funny
Brian (8:41:02 PM): I think I'll put you on my web site
paulftfw (8:41:04 PM): haha right fucker
Brian (8:41:22 PM): so the whole world can see what a charmer you are
paulftfw (8:41:31 PM): ok douche
Brian (8:42:50 PM): you're wonderful
Brian (8:43:13 PM): I have no doubt that you're going to be one of those rare individuals who makes the world a better place
paulftfw (8:43:31 PM): ok quit messagein me im about to c some tits

Normally I just post these and run, but I have an exam tomorrow, so let's analyze this. Break that sucker down.

Section I

paulftfw (8:35:08 PM): ur a pussy
bri270 (8:36:24 PM): You must be a teenager.

He begins by calling me feminine, which is only true when I'm playing sports. Right away I know that he has no clue who I am. He obviously just wants to tango. I haven't danced in a while, so I take the bait and go for the obvious: this guy's thick as a post and almost as bright.

Section II

paulftfw (8:36:32 PM): no im 19
paulftfw (8:36:42 PM): u must be a queer
bri270 (8:36:44 PM): Ha!
bri270 (8:36:53 PM): Well, then, you're still a teenager, my friend
bri270 (8:37:11 PM): sharp as a tack, too, I see

I was right. Complete bozo. Scratch that, Bozo the Clown was a good man, and this moron could make Henry VIII look like a virgin preschool teacher. So, I continue to block his shots and throw on mild insults that he probably didn't get.

Section III

paulftfw (8:37:20 PM): yea but im an adult who are u pussy and where u from
paulftfw (8:38:35 PM): are u a niger
paulftfw (8:38:56 PM): nigger
bri270 (8:40:57 PM): you're funny

He's knows he's beat. He begins to notice his mistakes and corrects one of them. I begin a second assault.

Section IV

bri270 (8:41:02 PM): I think I'll put you on my web site
paulftfw (8:41:04 PM): haha right fucker
bri270 (8:41:22 PM): so the whole world can see what a charmer you are
paulftfw (8:41:31 PM): ok douche

Well, he started it. Now he seems confused and wants to bail. I've won. He knows he's an idiot and wants to move on.

Section V

bri270 (8:42:50 PM): you're wonderful
bri270 (8:43:13 PM): I have no doubt that you're going to be one of those rare individuals who makes the world a better place
paulftfw (8:43:31 PM): ok quit messagein me im about to c some tits

This is the best part. If you read it slowly and listen, you can hear the Mortal Kombat "FATALITY!" Good bye, little rat. His departing words are the best.

It doesn't exist, yet, but let's talk about it anyway. Good lawd willin', I will graduate May 12. I will use the following month to take photos and write. I have much to put on paper, a lot desperately wanting out. I'm horrible with grammar and I can't tell a story to save my life. But, I really want to write a book, and I will. Then, there will be the annual beach trip with my family and James' in late June. After that I will get a job. I want to go to grad school, but I need money and a break from structured study. I've done it for years; I need some time off. Then, who knows? I'm predicting suicide.