From the State Capital of Iowa

This is Mother Iowa.

I saw her on Saturday at the Iowa State Capital in Des Moines where Thomas Bateman, Ryan, and I took some compromising pictures from atop her bronze frame for Facebook. It was a really good trip. In the city, bought a coffee from Starbucks for the first time in six weeks and ate really good bread with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

I'm quite behind on the blog because I've been working for three days on papers, readings, and other miscellaneous college fare. I almost quit college today, in fact. I packed up three shirts into the laundry duffel from the Macs and walked down the fire escape. Then I went to the laundry room. Doing laundry is like running away.

I'm in the library with Ryan right now trying to analyze this woman and her iconic integrity as one monument in a larger Civil War commemoration. It's going poorly. I will probably be up until class starts tomorrow and I won't be able to shower or brush my teeth.

Ojahla means "God willing" in Spanish.

Ojahla my birthday will be good. Today's my birthday. Today SUCKS right now.

Big time kudos to Ryan for supplying me with this breathtaking picture. I think he really captured her.