Books and paper

I'm really tired tonight... tired of outlining and thinking and thinking and thinking. Then I took a look around my apartment and realized that I was surrounded. By books and paper. At first, it sort of frustrated me.  People who know me, know that I like things neat and orderly. As finals start, the piles grow; fortunately, as finals go on, one by one, the piles will be cleared, and the house will be clean again. 

And more importantly, it occurs to me that this mess represents the amount of work I've put in, and that is just for one semester. And it doesn't represent everything i've done this semester. I imagine these piles, times four...four semesters worth of this. that is what my life has been like for two years. At times, I get weighed down under the workload.  But when I look at these pictures, I think about all that I've accomplished.  It is a lot. So...I'm proud of my messy apartment!

This is a stack of work that I haven't yet completed.  Work to do over the summer for the archives project I'm working on.

This is my study headquarters. I've been finishing my outline for administrative law over the past few days. 

My desk, and my computer. I have a close relationship with my computer.

The book, in its almost final form. Now that represents hours upon hours of work!

My recycle pile. It will be much, much larger by the end of the semester!

Contrasts

First of all, I have to say that they don't call New Jersey the Garden State for nothing.  It is a really beautiful state, even if Newark is not its shining crown jewel.  A few of you have commented that Newark is prettier than they thought it would be.  And I admit, the pictures I posted show a different side of Newark.  My hope is that someday, this is the side of Newark everyone will see.  It has a lot of potential because of its past.  There are many amazing buildings.  Still, I think you should see the contrast.  

A picture of a tree I passed by on my way to Branch Brook Park - I think it sits on the Rutgers campus in Newark.

Again, the beautiful cathedral - I believe it's called Sacred Heart

And what I ran into on my walk there.  SAD!!!  And this is what people think of when they think of Newark.