23 March, 2003
20 March, 2003
17 March, 2003
Don't get me wrong, I still love being an American. We have the softest toilet paper!
Ok, I'm back - but after this I'm going to bed, I swear.
Why would our president want to piss off the UN? Protecting our country is one thing, but I think John Brady Kiesling (former US Foreign Service Officer) had it right when he said: "We should ask ourselves why we have failed to persuade more of the world that a war with Iraq is necessary. We have over the past two years done too much to assert to our world partners that narrow and mercenary US interests override the cherished values of our partners."
Shouldn't war always, always, always be a last resort? Do we really consider this man in the desert to be a threat? Or are our interests less noble? Fuck it, I don't know. But I do feel uncomfortable knowing that we're going against the UN. It just doesn't seem like a very bright idea, does it? I don't care how allegedly powerless the UN may be; its still a bellwether for international public opinion. How cocky have we really become?
Diplomacy should always be given precedent over force.
Why would our president want to piss off the UN? Protecting our country is one thing, but I think John Brady Kiesling (former US Foreign Service Officer) had it right when he said: "We should ask ourselves why we have failed to persuade more of the world that a war with Iraq is necessary. We have over the past two years done too much to assert to our world partners that narrow and mercenary US interests override the cherished values of our partners."
Shouldn't war always, always, always be a last resort? Do we really consider this man in the desert to be a threat? Or are our interests less noble? Fuck it, I don't know. But I do feel uncomfortable knowing that we're going against the UN. It just doesn't seem like a very bright idea, does it? I don't care how allegedly powerless the UN may be; its still a bellwether for international public opinion. How cocky have we really become?
Diplomacy should always be given precedent over force.
Current mood: peaceful
Current music: Brewer and Shipley, One Toke Over the Line
I have this nagging fear that the NSA is watching me. *chuckles; glances around nervously*
-How many Marxists does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
-None. Inherent in the lightbulb is the seed of its own revolution.
The full moon is shining so brilliantly that the birds have been singing all night. Sitting on the porch while smoking a cigarette, I think I got a hint of this "mono no aware" I've been reading about lately.
Current music: Brewer and Shipley, One Toke Over the Line
I have this nagging fear that the NSA is watching me. *chuckles; glances around nervously*
-How many Marxists does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
-None. Inherent in the lightbulb is the seed of its own revolution.
The full moon is shining so brilliantly that the birds have been singing all night. Sitting on the porch while smoking a cigarette, I think I got a hint of this "mono no aware" I've been reading about lately.
16 March, 2003
The end is in sight!!!
Current mood: listless
Current music: Tears for Fears, Everybody Wants to Rule the World
If I drop my second major, I could graduate next semester. Considering all the hostility in the REES department as of late, I'm wondering if that would be the best option.
Dr. Mikkelson is back and, as I knew he would, immediately set out to rectify the situation with Masha. Unfortunately, the majority of the faculty is against him, and has been trying to get Masha ousted for the last 12 years. She's endured one professional humiliation after another, from being denied tenure and having her title reduced to "Lecturer," and now to being removed from the graduate faculty completely. The theater department is more than happy to have her, and she said it would be like going home to finish her career there. But Mikkelson wants to have Masha reinstated to the graduate faculty, because having a Russian theater program available is an asset to the department. Adrienne contends that it's suicide to major in Russian theater anyway, but still...
It's ridiculous when people get caught in personal vendettas and neglect the best interest of the students. And what's more, when they refuse to allow the students any input whatsoever. The University Senate Code has a few things to say about that, but we'll see how it goes.
So anyway, with this current situation and the possibility of several influential professors growing to hate me, I was torn as to whether I should keep my REES major (the chair of REES is one of Masha's enemies, who now knows that Adrienne and I met with Mikkelson for two hours one Friday about this). I could graduate next semester and try grad school somewhere else, which would probably be wiser anyway. I've been feeling really disillusioned with a department that I once held in high esteem. But I've decided that I could only benefit from the additional coursework of the second major, and it's only 2 extra semesters at 12 hours each. Maybe if this whole mess finally blows over, I'll have established some sort of decent relationship with these people and be able to stay at the KU grad school, at least for my MA. But we'll see.
*blows raspberry in no one's general direction*
Current music: Tears for Fears, Everybody Wants to Rule the World
If I drop my second major, I could graduate next semester. Considering all the hostility in the REES department as of late, I'm wondering if that would be the best option.
Dr. Mikkelson is back and, as I knew he would, immediately set out to rectify the situation with Masha. Unfortunately, the majority of the faculty is against him, and has been trying to get Masha ousted for the last 12 years. She's endured one professional humiliation after another, from being denied tenure and having her title reduced to "Lecturer," and now to being removed from the graduate faculty completely. The theater department is more than happy to have her, and she said it would be like going home to finish her career there. But Mikkelson wants to have Masha reinstated to the graduate faculty, because having a Russian theater program available is an asset to the department. Adrienne contends that it's suicide to major in Russian theater anyway, but still...
It's ridiculous when people get caught in personal vendettas and neglect the best interest of the students. And what's more, when they refuse to allow the students any input whatsoever. The University Senate Code has a few things to say about that, but we'll see how it goes.
So anyway, with this current situation and the possibility of several influential professors growing to hate me, I was torn as to whether I should keep my REES major (the chair of REES is one of Masha's enemies, who now knows that Adrienne and I met with Mikkelson for two hours one Friday about this). I could graduate next semester and try grad school somewhere else, which would probably be wiser anyway. I've been feeling really disillusioned with a department that I once held in high esteem. But I've decided that I could only benefit from the additional coursework of the second major, and it's only 2 extra semesters at 12 hours each. Maybe if this whole mess finally blows over, I'll have established some sort of decent relationship with these people and be able to stay at the KU grad school, at least for my MA. But we'll see.
*blows raspberry in no one's general direction*
14 March, 2003
"This madman has every intention of firing back at our troops when we attack his country."
Current mood: calm
Current music: Trance Nation, Just Breathe
I survived. It's spring break! I spanked my art history midterm this afternoon, then went back in and spanked it again for good measure. So, that went well.
I've got to go get beautiful now - we've been taking turns making dinner for the whole group every Friday night, and tonight Adrienne's making chicken pesto linguine and rumcake out at the barn. This is going to be a good, stress-free week.
Current music: Trance Nation, Just Breathe
I survived. It's spring break! I spanked my art history midterm this afternoon, then went back in and spanked it again for good measure. So, that went well.
I've got to go get beautiful now - we've been taking turns making dinner for the whole group every Friday night, and tonight Adrienne's making chicken pesto linguine and rumcake out at the barn. This is going to be a good, stress-free week.
Current mood: dorky
Current music: War, Why Can't We Be Friends - and feeling a need to play it for Dubya.
I have a habit of talking about Russia too much. A couple weeks ago, Pat came over and we were all revved up to spend an entire evening just smoking, listening to music, and pretending it was summertime. Then I started telling him all about the Time of Troubles, and the False Dmitri, and next thing I know he's talking about how he's tired and he's going to crash on the couch. Tonight, I assaulted Joe with Solzhenitsyn and the Gulag Archipelago, and then went off on a rant about Hitler fashioning his concentration camps on Stalin's model. The next thing I know, Joe's practically prodding Laine with white-hot pokers to get her to leave. Actually, he was probably hoping to get laid. Regardless, it leaves me with the disconcerting premonition that I will be the quintessential "boring" professor.
But still... how can anyone find Russian history to be dull? I mean, come on! They were so pissed off at the False Dmitri that they hung him, incinerated his remains, loaded the ashes into a cannon, and shot his ass back to Poland! That's some crazy shit!
Current music: War, Why Can't We Be Friends - and feeling a need to play it for Dubya.
I have a habit of talking about Russia too much. A couple weeks ago, Pat came over and we were all revved up to spend an entire evening just smoking, listening to music, and pretending it was summertime. Then I started telling him all about the Time of Troubles, and the False Dmitri, and next thing I know he's talking about how he's tired and he's going to crash on the couch. Tonight, I assaulted Joe with Solzhenitsyn and the Gulag Archipelago, and then went off on a rant about Hitler fashioning his concentration camps on Stalin's model. The next thing I know, Joe's practically prodding Laine with white-hot pokers to get her to leave. Actually, he was probably hoping to get laid. Regardless, it leaves me with the disconcerting premonition that I will be the quintessential "boring" professor.
But still... how can anyone find Russian history to be dull? I mean, come on! They were so pissed off at the False Dmitri that they hung him, incinerated his remains, loaded the ashes into a cannon, and shot his ass back to Poland! That's some crazy shit!
13 March, 2003
No longer shitting shards of glass...
Current mood: lazy
Current music: Delibes, Lakme (Flower Duet)
I was up until 4am this morning... AGAIN. But I wouldn't let myself quit until I completely understood every concept in the last four weeks of our physics homework. It paid off, and I'm happy to announce I taught that midterm who was boss!
It was an absolutely beautiful day in my book; I love misty, balmy, overcast weather. Tonight, lightning was tinting the sky and Adrienne surmised that it was a "werewolf kind of evening." I had to agree; it definitely had a creepy/calm ambience. After that, I went to my War and Society in Russian Literature class for some rousing discussions of Tolstoy, Turgenev, Chechnya, Dostoevsky, and existentialism - all while still getting out of class an hour early. At one point, the lights in Wescoe went out and we sat in the dark for a while, talking and waiting for the lights to come back on as hail pounded the windows. I came home, cleaned house, and watched Elvis Costello host Letterman and interview Eddie Izzard ("I'm covered in bEEEEEEEEEEEEssssss!") Then Eric Idle on Kilborne (good night for British bonding with my Sarah) and upstairs to hang out for a bit with Laine and Joe. Did I mention rocking out to "Sister Christian" with Adrienne in the Taco John's drive-thru?
That was my day. It kicked ass, but I still didn't get to bed early.
Current music: Delibes, Lakme (Flower Duet)
I was up until 4am this morning... AGAIN. But I wouldn't let myself quit until I completely understood every concept in the last four weeks of our physics homework. It paid off, and I'm happy to announce I taught that midterm who was boss!
It was an absolutely beautiful day in my book; I love misty, balmy, overcast weather. Tonight, lightning was tinting the sky and Adrienne surmised that it was a "werewolf kind of evening." I had to agree; it definitely had a creepy/calm ambience. After that, I went to my War and Society in Russian Literature class for some rousing discussions of Tolstoy, Turgenev, Chechnya, Dostoevsky, and existentialism - all while still getting out of class an hour early. At one point, the lights in Wescoe went out and we sat in the dark for a while, talking and waiting for the lights to come back on as hail pounded the windows. I came home, cleaned house, and watched Elvis Costello host Letterman and interview Eddie Izzard ("I'm covered in bEEEEEEEEEEEEssssss!") Then Eric Idle on Kilborne (good night for British bonding with my Sarah) and upstairs to hang out for a bit with Laine and Joe. Did I mention rocking out to "Sister Christian" with Adrienne in the Taco John's drive-thru?
That was my day. It kicked ass, but I still didn't get to bed early.
12 March, 2003
11 March, 2003
lasdfjk;kjlasdf;adfl;sjkdfjklasl;sdfjkajkldf;asjkl;adfsajsdklfdjklafsf;asdjlk
Current mood: drained
Current music: The Clash, London Calling
If I can only make it through to midnight or so... and then if I can only make it through my 2 midterms tomorrow... and after that, my art history midterm is on Friday and THEN IT'S SPRING BREAK baby!!!!! I'm so loopy right now, another side effect of staying up until 3 or 4 am studying for the last 4 nights in a row. Did I mention that Red Bull is my friend? If I chug two in a row, I tweak in a very productive way.
I've written 4 papers in 3 days. I have no more words.
Current music: The Clash, London Calling
If I can only make it through to midnight or so... and then if I can only make it through my 2 midterms tomorrow... and after that, my art history midterm is on Friday and THEN IT'S SPRING BREAK baby!!!!! I'm so loopy right now, another side effect of staying up until 3 or 4 am studying for the last 4 nights in a row. Did I mention that Red Bull is my friend? If I chug two in a row, I tweak in a very productive way.
I've written 4 papers in 3 days. I have no more words.
10 March, 2003
Hours of F.U.N., I tell you... hours!
Current mood: silly
Current music: ...only the cheering voices in my head...
I just noticed that the halficle (aka "very small cubicle") where I used to sit before my 7 month "hospital vacation" still had my little word magnets all over the file cabinet. Since I don't sit there anymore and someone else does, I had to be very, very sly... but the magnets are mine again! After some super-sneaky ninja action involving 3 somersaults and a close encounter with the boogey woman, I finally managed to pry the magnets off and deposit them in a baggie. I'm so weird... but I wanted them back so I could put them on the fridge at home!
Current music: ...only the cheering voices in my head...
I just noticed that the halficle (aka "very small cubicle") where I used to sit before my 7 month "hospital vacation" still had my little word magnets all over the file cabinet. Since I don't sit there anymore and someone else does, I had to be very, very sly... but the magnets are mine again! After some super-sneaky ninja action involving 3 somersaults and a close encounter with the boogey woman, I finally managed to pry the magnets off and deposit them in a baggie. I'm so weird... but I wanted them back so I could put them on the fridge at home!
04 March, 2003
Jesus is coming, and he's not even going to clean it up.
Current mood: uncomfortable
Current music: Liam Lynch, United States of Whatever
OH MY LORD. It seems that all men have lost their minds, or become entirely too creepy and weird. I give up! I'm definitely going to become a lesbian. It's bad enough having to deflect the unwanted overtures of certain young men and their friends, but to have my 49 year old coworker talking dirty to me? And making me feel R E A L L Y uncomfortable? This is too much. It got to the point where I was about to go talk to my boss about it. I know he doesn't mean to make me uncomfortable, and he's actually a pretty cool guy, but with everything that's been going on lately, the LAST thing I need is Master Greyballs hitting on me and telling me how he once lived with a 21 year old girl (this brought up after I tried to put him off by telling him he was too old).
I'm not going to be a tattletale, and I think I handled the situation fairly well. He apologized at least. Argh.
Current music: Liam Lynch, United States of Whatever
OH MY LORD. It seems that all men have lost their minds, or become entirely too creepy and weird. I give up! I'm definitely going to become a lesbian. It's bad enough having to deflect the unwanted overtures of certain young men and their friends, but to have my 49 year old coworker talking dirty to me? And making me feel R E A L L Y uncomfortable? This is too much. It got to the point where I was about to go talk to my boss about it. I know he doesn't mean to make me uncomfortable, and he's actually a pretty cool guy, but with everything that's been going on lately, the LAST thing I need is Master Greyballs hitting on me and telling me how he once lived with a 21 year old girl (this brought up after I tried to put him off by telling him he was too old).
I'm not going to be a tattletale, and I think I handled the situation fairly well. He apologized at least. Argh.
03 March, 2003
One year, baby!
Current mood: groggy
Current music: Pixies, Gigantic
This weekend marked the 1 year anniversary of my brush with death. I spent the wee hours of Saturday morning in a candlelit bathtub, listening to music and writing. It was a nice way to while away the hours that I spent languishing in my crumpled car a year prior. On Saturday night we held a soiree designed to give my friends and I yet another reason to play foosball. Adrienne and I stopped by the coffee shop after dinner and requested that the aesthetically pleasing barista put in an appearance at my soiree, and that he also needed to take his clothes off. Jokingly, we explained that 1) I didn't die last year [*polite applause*], and 2) male strippers dressed up as policemen or firefighters is just too cliche - we would prefer a barista stripper. We didn't expect him to show up at all, least of all actually remove his clothing. But show up he did, CD in hand, needing a shot or two before the games began... but otherwise he definitely had his Chippendale's face on. He shimmied and shook his booty to "You Sexy Thing," but only took his shirt off (an acceptable compromise). I was laughing too hard and felt too embarrassed to even really look at him, but Sarah had the presence of mind to slap him on the rump.
What else....oh yeah, there was a bit of DrAmA that night, involving a certain "hobbit" from back in December and his creepy bisexual friend. Both were summarily shot down and dismissed from the premises.
And... I had a little proposition from a certain welcome source, but decided it wasn't the best idea right now. But it was nice to have a little romantic interlude again...
Current music: Pixies, Gigantic
This weekend marked the 1 year anniversary of my brush with death. I spent the wee hours of Saturday morning in a candlelit bathtub, listening to music and writing. It was a nice way to while away the hours that I spent languishing in my crumpled car a year prior. On Saturday night we held a soiree designed to give my friends and I yet another reason to play foosball. Adrienne and I stopped by the coffee shop after dinner and requested that the aesthetically pleasing barista put in an appearance at my soiree, and that he also needed to take his clothes off. Jokingly, we explained that 1) I didn't die last year [*polite applause*], and 2) male strippers dressed up as policemen or firefighters is just too cliche - we would prefer a barista stripper. We didn't expect him to show up at all, least of all actually remove his clothing. But show up he did, CD in hand, needing a shot or two before the games began... but otherwise he definitely had his Chippendale's face on. He shimmied and shook his booty to "You Sexy Thing," but only took his shirt off (an acceptable compromise). I was laughing too hard and felt too embarrassed to even really look at him, but Sarah had the presence of mind to slap him on the rump.
What else....oh yeah, there was a bit of DrAmA that night, involving a certain "hobbit" from back in December and his creepy bisexual friend. Both were summarily shot down and dismissed from the premises.
And... I had a little proposition from a certain welcome source, but decided it wasn't the best idea right now. But it was nice to have a little romantic interlude again...
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