exams are done... I think I broke it

Well, as of 2PM yesterday, I am officially finished with my comprehensive exams. I'm honestly running into trouble focusing on anything or figuring out what to do with my time now that I'm done. The IR exam was on Wednesday and it managed to be less of an ordeal than I'd expected. Just like everyone said, that field is substantively small enough that there aren't really all *that* many questions they can ask you. I felt fine about what I wrote and expect to pass.

I then took the rest of the day off. Watched a movie, "The Cave," which wasn't any good, went over to Megan Slater's new place to have a beer. I was one of only two non-Drew University people there. Don't think I've mentioned this in the blog before, but I'm basically a Drew-groupie when it comes to my circle of friends in Philly. Dave Faris, Christine, Derek Loafman, Megan... I've never felt closer to North Jersey.

Anyway, the American exam was ridiculous, in a good way. I didn't just pass it, I beat it. And I beat it hard. So hard, in fact, that I think I might have broken it. I now feel totally vindicated for not having studied for most of the summer. I managed to write three strong answers without reference to a SINGLE BOOK that I read this summer. In other words, years of American politics geekitude paid off in spades. I focused on the books I already knew perfectly and had a lot to say about, and my answers kicked ass.

So now I'm done. And I'm drained. Supposed to go out to Swarthmore in an hour to help write an energy campaign plan. Don't really know if I've got it in me, but I'll head out there anyway.

This weekend I'm either A)going to a family reunion in Binghamton, B)going to New Haven again to see Tenley, or C)sitting around here, maybe going to AC. A and B are complicated by the ridiculous gas prices, though with poker I can afford it and all. A is what I *should* do, but hanging around with a bunch of relatives who I honestly don't know all that well just seems really draining at the moment. And B is what I really *want* to do, because we're in a really good spot right now and seeing her is going great. We'll see how it all turns out.

...oh, one other thing: final talley for summer poker winnings: $12,000. Assuming I pass these exams, I am officially a criminal mastermind.