I got to see Rent tonight for the second time. If you haven't seen this musical before, I highly recommend it. It deals with the lives of several friends, lovers, etc living in New York City as they cope with poverty, love, race, homosexuality, drugs, AIDS, and death. The Chicago version is slightly different and much better than the on-Broadway run.

I'm actually getting out of here for a while today and tomorrow. The entire Neptune Hall staff at NIU is going on retreat to Oakdale Forest Preserve in Freeport, IL. It'll be good to get a break from this place even if for only one night.

I met Iwao Takamoto (the creator of "Scooby Doo") at the Warner Bros. Studio Store in Oakbrook, IL and got him to sign a silhouette statue of Scooby and Shaggy. It was very cool and he did a demo of his drawing ability. There's nothing like watching a professional artist make a familiar character come to life right in front of your eyes. I also found out today that my girlfriend and her friend are going to be driving up here on Easter weekend to visit me. That rocks! Hey, if you haven't experienced a long-distance relationship before, you'll never know what it's like to spend extended periods of time away from the person you care about.

My vacation request has been approved!!! Just an FYI, I requested to be allowed out of a few days of work here at NIU to go to New Orleans, LA. I'm going down there this May to see my girlfriend's graduation and hang out in my second favorite city!