I just folded my first two origami cranes. The second one looks a lot better than the first one. :) I started teaching myself origami a few weeks ago. I love paper of all kinds, and I have always wanted to learn origami.

Today I cleared out a bunch of old folders from my grad school and undergrad days. I decided to throw out all my class notes. I just saved my term papers, response papers, and exams. I can't believe how much stuff I had to get rid of! Next on my list is the filing cabinet where I kept all my research about different writers. It feels good to get rid of this stuff.

I am amazed that people still ask me about my PhD and whether I think I'll finish it. Good god, what do I have to do to make it clear it's not something I want? I mean, what else do I have to do besides officially quit school, which I did over 2 years ago? Just this week my boss was asking me how far I had to go on it and whether I thought I'd do it. No thanks. I think I can do without another year of being clinically depressed. I like myself better when I have some self-esteem.

I think it's wonderful that so many of my friends were able to complete their PhDs. I'm glad I realized that it wasn't what I wanted before I pushed myself to the end, though. Never waste your life doing what you don't want to be doing!