I can’t believe Heath Ledger is actually dead. I know… it may sound stupid for me to concentrate on the comings and goings of Hollywood stars, but seriously, I feel vaguely shaken by his death. Granted, I felt awful when Anna Nicole died, but Heath is even worse. I feel like he’s some kid that I went to middle school with, and then haven’t seen in a long time (apart from maybe stalking him on Facebook). I can still picture him dancing up the bleacher steps, singing along to that “You’re just too good to be true” song. It seems very strange that he’ll never be in another movie again (apart from Batman, of course, which will certainly only add another undertone of oddity).

Walking to school, I was still sort of thinking about it. Admittedly, I was also listening to Sufjan Stevens croon a variety of songs from ‘Seven Swans,’ so this probably only added to my discontent. It was actually sort of surreal, hearing Sufjan sing, “But I’m not afraid to die, to see you, to meet you, to see you at last”, while thinking of Heath Ledger’s death, and walking past a church. I must have looked unsettled (or maybe just wet and cold as per usual), because the Minister of the Sandyford Church poked his head out of the doors to ask me if I had time to have some coffee with him. I politely declined, mostly because I was already running a bit late for Lithography. There was a part of me that wanted to accept, though. I’m half-considering starting to go to church over there, although I know my intentions are not really that pure. I know I won’t start believing. I just like being around people who sincerely and kindly have faith.

Coming home from class Yesterday, I saw a woman trying to carry 12 over-stuffed manilla folders across the road. Just by looking at them, I could tell they were going to drop! Furthermore, crossing roads in the UK in general seems to be more of a danger than in the US, so I was immediately concerned. I helped her pick them up, and ended up helping her lug them to her office which wasn’t too far down the road. I ran into her today too, and we exchanged pleasantries. So now I have a very blonde, 35-year-old Scottish friend. I don’t know her name, and she doesn’t know mine, but we’re basically friends.

And speaking of friends… tonight I have a date! Well, that’s a lie; said date admittedly has a girlfriend back home, but even still, real plans with a real person! He’s the quiet boy in Printmaking (from Virginia or North Carolina or something) who reminds me vaguely of Alex. Running into him on my way to the store, I told him he could borrow the copy of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay that I just finished reading, and then he asked if I’d gone to some US Consulate meeting (which of course I hadn’t), and asked if I’d registered with the Police (which of course I also haven’t), and then if I like music. This of course led to us making plans to meet outside Cairn Cross House to go to some local/in the style of Camera Obscura/ band’s show. He is the type of person who makes me constantly want to laugh. I’m not really sure if it’s actually him, or if it’s more a complex I’ve picked up after spending too much of my time alone. The laughter isn’t directed at him, but is rather just the natural response my brain comes up with when I see him.

There is a part of me that is slightly wary about how hanging out with him will go, but shows are loud and make conversation difficult! Really I should be doing exciting social things and putting efforts into an attempt to make friends, so this will be my start.

My second set of post-cards printed badly, and I am irritated. But I suppose that is why Lithography is wonderful; because something, after you’ve spent 6 hours on a beautiful, delicate drawing, it prints completely black and you have to start over again. It makes the successes more delicious. Still frustrating, though.