And now folks, a musical interlude...

"Cause they're songs about me

And who I am

Songs about lovin' and livin'

And good-hearted women, family and God

Yeah, they're all just songs about me

Songs about me"

--Trace Adkins*

Right now, sitting on my desk in this darkened room (Lora's taking a nap) are a bottle of Dr. Pepper, a small bottle of orange juice, and a "grande" (read: normal-sized) cup of coffee. They squat in the midst of several pens, post-it notes and index cards like some kind of bizarre art project. It's not an art project, but if it were, it would be symbolizing this week, which is characterized by a ridiculous amount of work crammed into a very small space, kept afloat by caffeinated beverages and written reminders to shower and call Katie and WRITE SYLLABUS LECTURES!!!!!!!!!!.

All of this is in checklist form, of course. I thrive on checklists. But that's a different topic for a different time, and I don't have time for it yet--I have eight papers to write by next Thursday. (It's not as bad as it sounds...only comes out to about twenty pages, which is much better than thirty or forty.)

Sigh.

Anyway, it's at times like these when picking and choosing different songs becomes not just an exercise in personality, and becomes a vitally important mission. This is when a song you previously enjoyed but listend to only recreationally morphs into a lifeline to confidence, sanity and cheerfulness. So, i have a playlist right now labeled "End of Freshman Year," and I listen to it obsessively.

My favorite song in the entire world right now is called "Flowers in the Window" by Travis. (Here's a link, if you'd like to hear it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0rvLLQLDOg --yeah, it's a Harry Potter video. But it's a really good Harry Potter video!) Technically, this is a love song. But it's not a love song to me. It's a cheerful, confidence-boosting song. My walking-down-the-pathways-when-it-suddenly-starts-pouring song. My it's-three-in-the-morning-and-I'm-just-starting-this-paper song. My treat to myself for finishing an assignment.

Wow, look at you now,

Flowers in the window.

It's such a lovely day,

And I'm glad you feel the same.

You stand up, out in the crowd,

You are one in a million,

And I love you so--

Let's watch the flowers grow

A little cheesy? Sure. Does it make me automatically feel better and like I'm having a good hair day? Yup. Just like couples have a song that's "theirs," this is my song right now. It'll change in a few weeks; it always does. In the past, my song has been for brief periods of time, "Fireflies" by Faith Hill, "Tied Together with a Smile" by Taylor Swift (talk about a little depressing), "I'm Ready" from the Kim Possible Soundtrack (and talk about a little embarrassing), and "Maybe" by Kelly Clarkson (one of my favorite lines ever: "I don't want to be tough. And I don't want to be proud. I don't need to be "fixed" and I certainly don't need to be "found." I'm not lost!"). Et cetera, et cetera. It's a little funny thinking about it how many of these songs are pop when ninety percent of my music is country.

There are other songs I've been listening to, too. "Weightless" by All Time Low has become my friend Kate's and my song to sing to ourselves when our roommates are acting like four-year-olds for the eighteenth time that day, or when there is simply too much to do, or when our Nature of Science professor insists that we're doing something wrong when really we're not, or when it is just a bad day.

Maybe it's not my weekend,

But it's gonna be my year,

And I'm so sick of watching while the minutes pass

As I go nowhere.

And this is my reaction

To everything I feel

Cause I been going crazy,

I don't wanna waste another minute here.

I mean, hey, it works. Often I'm amazed at a song's ability to match a mood, but I sure appreciate it. How would I survive my dorm room without my iPod and headphones?! The correct answer is that I would not.

Anyway, I've been rambling, and I need to go write one of those papers. And probably Youtube fifty gazillion songs.

But you didn't hear that last part from me. I'm totally focused. :-)

*Incidentally, Trace Adkins is just about David's favorite artist ever, and this is from one of David's favorite song. Just a fun fact for those of you who didn't know.