Aug. 28 Dear Diary,

Who talked me into taking particle physics my first semester? I… Aug. 28 Dear Diary,

Who talked me into taking particle physics my first semester? I don’t care that I took AP Physics last year ? my adviser needs a good, hard smack upside the head. Being a rocket scientist was a stupid idea.

An even stupider idea was to try to study in my room. Emily is so loud; I wish she’d stop practicing that damn flugelhorn while I’m working on my homework.

I have to find a different place to study ? before I decide to become a philosophy major.

Aug. 31 Dear Diary,

The Cathedral lawn is the best place ever to study. I love it! I can sit outside and get some sun while I work on my particle physics homework.

I also really like the view ? of the Pitt rugby and Ultimate Frisbee team practices, that is. Mmm, rugby players.

Emily and I are getting along better now. She practices her flugelhorn in the quad. We’re going to head over to Flagstaff Hill tomorrow and see how the studying goes over there.

Sept. 8 Dear Diary,

I couldn’t take the sun anymore. This Oakland heat is downright oppressive. I feel like I have six plastic bags over my head.

Fortunately, it’s air-conditioned inside Hillman Library. The computer lab on the second floor is fantastic ? the computers against the window have a wonderful, commanding view of the Cathedral.

The quiet desks against the windows on the third and fourth floors are great too. The area inside the periodicals room is a hidden treasure. I hope no one else finds my secret hiding place ? especially not my crazy stalker Travis. How in the world did he get my e-mail address?

Sept. 26 Dear Diary,

Damn it! Has Travis been reading my diary? I never told anybody about the periodicals room in Hillman. How did he find me at 1:30 on a Tuesday morning?

Fortunately, the Commons Room of the Cathedral is so big that he’ll never find me there. Surely all those tables will camouflage my presence.

Or will they? I’d better hide my diary in a new place.

Oct. 14 Dear Diary,

Just when I think I’m out, I get pulled back in. Travis found me in the Commons Room. Apparently, it’s not as vast as I thought it was.

Now that it’s time for midterms, I’ve got to find a place to study where I can get a caffeine fix while I cram for particle physics. I’ll have to try Kiva Han tomorrow.

If only the rugby players would stalk me ? sigh.

Oct. 31 Dear Diary,

Kiva Han coffee is good and strong, but it’s just too cramped in there. I’ve got to be able to spread out and get a grande mocha Frappuccino while I’m at it. Yes, I know Starbucks is a big, evil corporation, blah, blah, blah, but the coffee, the jazz and the comfy chairs are just so pleasant!

Sidebar: Why didn’t I listen to Emily? I knew I wouldn’t win the rugby house Halloween costume contest dressed as a particle physicist. I should have let her dress me up as a Catholic schoolgirl. Or I shouldn’t have worn the business suit under the lab coat.

Nov. 22 Dear Diary,

I saw a group of people studying in the Lower Lounge of the William Pitt Union today, and I thought that was a great place to study. It’s mostly quiet, but there’s a little activity to keep you stimulated. (Maybe the stimulation was from the can of Red Bull I got from the dudes handing them out in the quad.)

Dec. 9 Dear Diary,

Finals are here, but it’s OK. The particle physics final covers 27 chapters, but I’m not worried. It took me all semester to find the perfect place to study, and I’ve finally found it.

It has comfy chairs, big tables to spread my stuff out on, it’s quiet, it’s luxurious and there’s a Starbucks in the basement.

The Pitt Club on Thackeray Street is manna from heaven.

And now that I’ve written it down, I have to destroy my journal. If Travis finds out about this, I don’t know what I’ll do.