Today is the third of November and here in Marquette, Michigan, America's North Coast -- we have had our First Snow. The first snow that has actually stuck, anyway. There's probably no more than an inch of it, and despite its tidings of Winter, it looks very pretty outside. The trees are mostly bare of leaves, and the starlings and crows hop from branch to branch, black silhouettes in the early morning.

I registered for my last semester at Northern Michigan University -- you read that right, I'll be graduating in May! This comes as a bit of a surprise to me, mostly because I was sure that it would take two more semesters and was pretty much fully prepared for such. But after a meeting with my adviser, I was told that I could definitely graduate sooner; when I registered, I was able to pick all the classes I need.

That said, it's a really bittersweet feeling and it's been weighing heavily on my mind because I... I love Marquette. Quite a bit, really. There's something about this city that's so wonderful; I love how it takes a two-minute drive to get to Nature, I love downtown's old, regal appearance, I love the "hippie" section of town, where the Co-op and favorite restaurant reside. I love all the wildlife you see right in town, and I love the laid-back nature of so many of the people in the city. Even though the overall attitude of many "Yoopers" is infuriating (especially toward those "idiots" downstate), I love the Upper Peninsula. As a kid, I always wanted to live here -- and I finally was awarded that wish when I started my freshman year at NMU in 2006. Now, though, as graduation draws nearer, I know my time in the U.P. is coming to an end. Chances are, sadly, I'll probably never live here again (I'd love for that to be a false claim). The fact of the matter is, though, that it's impossible to find a job here, both as a college student and especially as a college graduate.

Steph and I will both be sending in our applications to MCAD over winter break; I really don't want to go to graduate school at this point, but if I change my mind, it really won't hurt to have sent in a portfolio. If Steph is accepted to MCAD, we'll be moving to Minneapolis -- which is a nice city, especially when you get away from the new skyscraper district -- but it's a big city, and it takes a good drive to get away from it and into the countryside. However, the neighborhood in which the art school resides reminds me a lot of Ann Arbor, and that comforts me a lot.

Hell, even after spending so much time in Marquette, my hometown of Ann Arbor is really quite foreign and often terrifying to me. It's mostly the traffic and the crime (which was always there, it's just so much scarier after being in the relatively crime-free city of Marquette).

Long entry is too long. Hazelnut is doing very well; she and Catkin are best friends. My parents are traveling up here for Thanksgiving this month, and Steph and I will be preparing a lovely vegan dinner.