homework hell

dear jacs,

i really hate homework. it was always better with you around because even if you didn't understand it either we could at least complain about it together and then figure things out to the best of our combined abilities. this research methods and statistics class is killing me. i just don't understand it at all, and reading the text materials and modules doesn't really help. they mention things, give definitions, but don't really tell me how to do whatever it is they're talking about. like for our group project, i only have to do two seemingly simple things, test for type 1 and 2 errors, and i found the definitions for them, but i'm not sure exactly how to test for them. and now blackboard's down for its weekly maintenance so i can't even nab the statistics and figure out how to do it. oy vey, jacs, i hate this class. whatever job i get in a library, i would like to ensure that i don't have to worry that much about statistics and research reports like this. it's just too many kinds of confusing.

i do really like our adult reading materials class. it has been so fun. the only thing i've really missed is reading your book reports. and i'm still angry at myself that i had some great idea for a mystery series we could write together and then promptly forgot it without writing it down. and then...everything else happened and now all i can remember is that i had some idea and can't remember what it was and never told you about it...and now we'll never write it. i don't care what you say, jacs, you were a damn good writer, and we could've written some really awesome stories together. i know you always helped me with my writing, always made me feel like it wasn't just some pipe dream but something that could actually happen. i planned to thank you in my acknowledgment paragraph for everything i ever published (if i ever publish anything). i had planned for you to be one of the first readers for almost anything i had, especially if it was something i was going to send in to be considered for publication. you could catch all my errors and typos and point them out not in a critical or bitchy way, but in a "didn't you mean" nice way that lets me know that i messed up, but you don't judge me for it. i will still put you in my acknowledgment page, it just won't be the same. but you were the one who always listened to my ideas, no matter how off-the-wall and silly, or melodramatic, or fantastical, and said, "wow, that sounds like it'll be a really good story." you'll still keep reading my stuff, won't you? even if i don't get the feedback you used to give, i'd still like to know you're reading and laughing and crying along with me as i write it. ... and if you could maybe point out some of those typos like you used to, that would be great, too.

je t'aime, ma très chère amie

--jens