[Slouching Toward Uncertainty]

Sorry to hear about your dad. It sounds like the gradual decline of his health allowed you to go through some of the mourning process in advance. Don't sweat the grades--any academic administrator who isn't a heartless bastard will take into account the family circumstances--and being there with your family as you were is far more important. A class can always be repeated, a test taken later, a paper postponed; your father only dies once, and the scheduing of it is not something you get a say in.May your memories of him serve as blessings, and also fodder for future writings.--Rigel

[Scared Silly or He Pissed On Himself]

Void where prohibited.

[The Evil Empire and the New Year]

I just hang out with neighbors for New Years, and we're purists enough to sing "Auld Lang Syne" to the original tune that Robert Burns indicated (see his Scots Musical Museum), rather than the errant tune that everyone else uses. (Click here for the REAL tune.)--Rigel