'This is not going to be a school story...'

But it always is, isn't it?

I finished my research paper and gave my presentation.  I turned in my research proposal and annotated bibliography for the other class.  I can't wait for the Java final next Thursday; it can't come soon enough.  College is making me feel sooo cliche right now...

On the bright side.  While listening to presentations today, I found out one of the other history students is also an Age of Sail enthusiast and Hornblower fan - is that not randomly awesome?  Then this evening I was able to finish reading The House of the Seven Gables.  Not as good as Blithedale Romance or Marble Faun, but the concept was good and I love Hawthorne's style.  I actually got to see the outside of said house in Salem, on our East Coast vacation:

And this is more or less how I pictured it (under much gloomier skies, of course).

By the by, did you watch the six new Hobbit clips yet, preciousss???!!!  I was not going to, for fear of spoilers, but today I broke down and watched all of them.  I am really curious as to what they mean by "Who did you tell about your quest?" - hinting at the Necromancer, maybe?