Make Good Art.

-Neil Gaiman

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Year Round-Up

So this is the new year. . .

Top 5 Worst Moments of 2007

5. Graduating.

Leaving St. Joe/Collegevillve, the Arboretum, Profs I adore, Roommates I was as close to as family, no more papers or exams or in-depth classroom discussions of books. No more Shaun. No more CM. Gah.

6. The Realization that I'm not an Office-worker

I think I'm really blue-collar at heart. I need to have something produced at the end of the day that seems like it really makes a difference. Numbers are great, but I want to build a table or a house. Dig a trench. Help things to grow. Teach someone something new. Work is great (not at the moment, but usually) but it's not for me in the long run. I wish I could love it and be happy there forever, because that would be so much more convenient for everyone. Whoops.

3. Everyone leaving the country.

Soul mate and best friends depart for Asia and the UK. New friends? Harder than you would imagine for an introvert. Replacing a soul mate and two best friends? Fricken' impossible.

2. My dog dying.

Well, no, not really. I just don't have something for this place.

1. Thesis!

Two years into a project that was my academic soul, and my love of the subject and excitement was destroyed by the committee from hell. Enough said.

and I don't feel any different

Top 5 Best Moments of '07:

5. Graduating.

Self-explanatory, really. I'm a college graduate! I made it through a lifetime of Catholic education and came out with only a few scars to show. I don't have to worry about exams, papers, homework, or chemistry ever again.

4. Adult-ish

Found a job. Paid some student loans. Pay my rent. Bought a car. Holy crap, I can be an adult! Frightening. And awesome.

3. Mara & Christina's Grad School letters

I had two of the women I most look up to write me the best possible letters I could imagine for graduate school. Both said that I was one of their most talented students and both were great throughout the whole process and furious when I didn't get in to any of my schools. That kind of support and indignation meant more to me than actually getting in to a school

2. Seward

Best.neighborhood.ever.

1. Understanding Karl Rahner.

Uhhh. One of the foremost and most difficult theologians of contemporary theology. My hero. One of the best theologies of grace and redemption conceived. Realizing that I not only understood him, but could explain him to others? Priceless. This was a life changing moment.

So this is the new year. And I have no resolutions. . .
-Death Cab for Cutie "The New Year"

Top 5 Resolutions for '08

5. No Boundary Slop. Work=Work. Personal Life=Personal Life. Stop letting them over lap as much as they do.
4. Spend less money going out.
3. Write every day.
2. Balance! Learn to manage time properly.
1. Run the 1/2 in June

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Life's gotten simple since.

"Clean"

The day that we almost died

in Tiger Leaping Gorge

Kevin and I shared a broad bed with clean

white sheets.

As we were falling asleep I asked

him not to touch me,

please.



That night he slept on his side

facing the wall.

I lay on my back

and watched the flourescent light

on the ceiling.