In the sense that a) I will be 20 in a week, b) The Rally to Restore Sanity/March to Keep Fear Alive is this Saturday, and c) the semester is already more than half over, which means I need to get much Sotomayor research done, stat.
Not much else of note. Had another successful prayer partner outing today (hi, Sarah!) and my West Wing class was particularly enjoyable, apart from the questionable episode choice (season five's "Access"). Looked particularly cute. My parents sent me a cross for my birthday and I've been wearing it every day since the package arrived.
A demain.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Whirlwind Weekend
I have now failed to submit posts for four of the thirty-one days in October. This time around, however, I think I had a good excuse:
Michelle, who I have known for nearly ten years now, came to visit me for the weekend. She arrived late on Friday night and would be leaving Sunday morning, so of course I had to take her to all the Charlottesville and UVa essentials:
But there was also some downtime, in which we did laundry college-style ($1.50 per machine, running back down to the laundry room to take care of my clothes right away, so no one pulled my underwear out of the washing machine to put their stuff in before I got there), watched The Joy Luck Club (such a great movie), and talked until three in the morning.
I didn't start on my homework until after church tonight, but all in all, I would say it was a weekend very well spent.
Friday, October 22, 2010
What I Want for My Birthday
I didn't do as well on my Constitutional Interpretation test as I thought I did (83/100, which while respectable is not up to my standard, especially as it's my favorite class and I'd really like to get an A in it). So, to cheer myself up, I'm going to write a list of what I would like for my birthday, Monday, November 1.
- A magical shifting of the calendar so my birthday doesn't fall on a Monday
- World peace
- Hogwarts to be real
- My own personal Ron Weasley/Gilbert Blythe/Jim Halpert/Fitzwilliam Darcy/Henry Tilney/Michael Moscovitz/Sam Seaborn (a male harem of fictional characters, basically)
- A really awesome Vlogbrothers video
- A's in all my classes
- To meet J. K. Rowling
- To meet President Obama
- A love note from a secret admirer (or, you know, someone to finally notice me. It would be nice, as I'm about to be 20 and I haven't had a boyfriend yet)
- A Perriello victory the next day
- Sunshine, temperatures in the high 60s or low 70s
- Puerto Rican food
- Hugs from all my friends
- One of those magnetic poetry sets from the bookstore. I have always coveted them.
- Someone to wish me happy birthday in chalk near Brown
- An ice cream cake, preferably mint chocolate chip
- A trip to the spa
- To be kidnapped by friends and taken somewhere awesome (but returned at a reasonable hour because I have a 9:30 the next day and it'll be Election Day)
- Pleasant surprises
- To feel loved and appreciated
In other news, Michelle is coming tomorrow! I'm really, really excited!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Restless Hearts
Every Wednesday night, I attend a small group at Wesley called Restless Hearts. It's easily the highlight of my week; I love all the group regulars and find the subject material both challenging and stimulating. Perhaps strangely, perhaps not, I find it's easier to be the me I want to be when I'm there. Sometimes I feel like, in my everyday life, I'm too quiet, and I've had people tell me I don't smile enough. But when I'm at Restless Hearts, I'm engaged and interested, and I try to answer every question. And I laugh often, because I happen to be doing the study with a group of very funny people. I like that feeling, so even when I'm stressed or my mind is elsewhere, I try to make it to Restless Hearts just so I can spend a portion of the evening truly being in the moment. Does that make sense? I'm not really at my most articulate at 11:30 at night.
This week we discussed feeling hungry for God and discovering our true names. Both subjects resonated with me. I'm a Christian, but sometimes I find it difficult to keep the faith, and my belief in God is something I struggle with. Naming, I think, goes right along with being hungry for God. It's all a voyage of discovery. I'm on a journey to find my vocation, my calling in life, and certainly I think the Christian faith is a big part of that journey. When I actually find that calling - and I don't know if I'll ever fully find that, or if there is just one set vocation, because I think people are called to different things at different times in their lives, and vocation is a lifelong process - I'll also discover part of my Name. And see, I'm quite particular about names. They should be strong, and they should have meaning. I'm named Aida after my grandmother, who died not long before I was born. It was my mother's tribute to her mother, and now that I'm older I can understand that better. My name is still constantly mispronounced (not Ada, like the counselor at my high school graduation decided so vexingly to announce when it was my turn to walk across the stage, or Aída, like Verdi's opera, but Aida - phonetically I-duh - like you might expect your great-aunt to be called. Except it's not spelled Ida, because that is nearly as dreadful as Anne without the e. Anne Shirley, as you might have guessed, is my kindred spirit), and misspelled, but I've come to appreciate it for what it is. I hope that when I hear my true Name, I'll be able to recognize it, accept it, and eventually, embrace it.
While I'm at it, I feel like much of Madeleine L'Engle's work addresses a similar subject matter. If you haven't read any of her books, please do give her a try. She was amazingly talented, and I don't think I've ever seen any other author write so brilliantly about love, loss, and vocation. She might even be better than J. K. Rowling, although the Harry Potter books will be my favorites forever and always (and Rowling is quite brilliant about love, loss, and vocation herself, just in a different way). The Time series is great, if a little strange, and specifically brings up the topic of Naming. I think my favorite L'Engle is A Ring of Endless Light, though. A more beautiful book you really cannot find.
Had an excellent day today, incidentally. I got an A on a history paper I thought I'd bombed, lost two pounds without having been to the gym for a week, had a great workout tonight, really enjoyed both Constitutional Interpretation and my West Wing class, and got confirmation from my friend Michelle that she'll be spending the weekend with me. Things have been difficult for the past two weeks, but today made up for it. Praise God!
This week we discussed feeling hungry for God and discovering our true names. Both subjects resonated with me. I'm a Christian, but sometimes I find it difficult to keep the faith, and my belief in God is something I struggle with. Naming, I think, goes right along with being hungry for God. It's all a voyage of discovery. I'm on a journey to find my vocation, my calling in life, and certainly I think the Christian faith is a big part of that journey. When I actually find that calling - and I don't know if I'll ever fully find that, or if there is just one set vocation, because I think people are called to different things at different times in their lives, and vocation is a lifelong process - I'll also discover part of my Name. And see, I'm quite particular about names. They should be strong, and they should have meaning. I'm named Aida after my grandmother, who died not long before I was born. It was my mother's tribute to her mother, and now that I'm older I can understand that better. My name is still constantly mispronounced (not Ada, like the counselor at my high school graduation decided so vexingly to announce when it was my turn to walk across the stage, or Aída, like Verdi's opera, but Aida - phonetically I-duh - like you might expect your great-aunt to be called. Except it's not spelled Ida, because that is nearly as dreadful as Anne without the e. Anne Shirley, as you might have guessed, is my kindred spirit), and misspelled, but I've come to appreciate it for what it is. I hope that when I hear my true Name, I'll be able to recognize it, accept it, and eventually, embrace it.
While I'm at it, I feel like much of Madeleine L'Engle's work addresses a similar subject matter. If you haven't read any of her books, please do give her a try. She was amazingly talented, and I don't think I've ever seen any other author write so brilliantly about love, loss, and vocation. She might even be better than J. K. Rowling, although the Harry Potter books will be my favorites forever and always (and Rowling is quite brilliant about love, loss, and vocation herself, just in a different way). The Time series is great, if a little strange, and specifically brings up the topic of Naming. I think my favorite L'Engle is A Ring of Endless Light, though. A more beautiful book you really cannot find.
Had an excellent day today, incidentally. I got an A on a history paper I thought I'd bombed, lost two pounds without having been to the gym for a week, had a great workout tonight, really enjoyed both Constitutional Interpretation and my West Wing class, and got confirmation from my friend Michelle that she'll be spending the weekend with me. Things have been difficult for the past two weeks, but today made up for it. Praise God!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Tuesday
Such a creative title, I know.
Pretty normal day today. Had a minor freakout when I woke up because for some reason I thought it was past 9:30 and I was late for French, but all was well (it was actually 8). My brain tells me weird things when it's half-asleep. There was a TA lecture on Africa in Foreign Policy of the United States, then I went to work, where Leslie sent me on a mission to find images from a book on reserve in the library. I don't know about you, but I always feel more purposeful when I'm wearing a thumb drive around my neck.
Arrived for History of the Civil Rights Movement fifteen minutes early, so I treated myself to the most delicious turtle cookie I've ever had (if I don't think about you, you don't exist, calories). Professor Bond lectured about the Freedom Riders and then had the class participate in a sit-in workshop. He assigned the roles, so I ended up playing a police officer (because that's who you'd really want to be in a mock sit-in, haha). It was actually quite interesting, and it made me appreciate how lucky I am to have Professor Bond as a teacher. It's one thing to lecture about the civil rights movement based on what you've been told in the history books, but it's quite another to lecture about the civil rights movement based on your own personal experiences living through it and working in it.
Looking forward to my West Wing class tomorrow, as Professor O'Brien is lecturing. Also, my mom told me my birthday package was on its way, which of course filled me with fiendish glee. Goodness, I can't believe I'll be twenty years old in 13 days. Being a twenty-something sounds so sophisticated. Of course, that's what I thought about turning 18, and even becoming a teenager many moons ago. Still, you don't turn twenty every day.
Am pleased with the progress of my October project so far. I hope NaNo goes this well.
Pretty normal day today. Had a minor freakout when I woke up because for some reason I thought it was past 9:30 and I was late for French, but all was well (it was actually 8). My brain tells me weird things when it's half-asleep. There was a TA lecture on Africa in Foreign Policy of the United States, then I went to work, where Leslie sent me on a mission to find images from a book on reserve in the library. I don't know about you, but I always feel more purposeful when I'm wearing a thumb drive around my neck.
Arrived for History of the Civil Rights Movement fifteen minutes early, so I treated myself to the most delicious turtle cookie I've ever had (if I don't think about you, you don't exist, calories). Professor Bond lectured about the Freedom Riders and then had the class participate in a sit-in workshop. He assigned the roles, so I ended up playing a police officer (because that's who you'd really want to be in a mock sit-in, haha). It was actually quite interesting, and it made me appreciate how lucky I am to have Professor Bond as a teacher. It's one thing to lecture about the civil rights movement based on what you've been told in the history books, but it's quite another to lecture about the civil rights movement based on your own personal experiences living through it and working in it.
Looking forward to my West Wing class tomorrow, as Professor O'Brien is lecturing. Also, my mom told me my birthday package was on its way, which of course filled me with fiendish glee. Goodness, I can't believe I'll be twenty years old in 13 days. Being a twenty-something sounds so sophisticated. Of course, that's what I thought about turning 18, and even becoming a teenager many moons ago. Still, you don't turn twenty every day.
Am pleased with the progress of my October project so far. I hope NaNo goes this well.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Another Day
The Good
- Hummus and feta lavosh at the Pav
- Constitutional Interpretation lecture
- Dinner with my prayer partner, Sarah (best part of the day)
- The progress I am making with my Sims
- A mostly clean room
The Bad
- Mistakenly going to a class that had been postponed until later in the week
- Mild insomnia last night, couldn't fall asleep until about 2
- Can't listen to NPR coverage about the midterms anymore, makes me too angry
- People are willing to vote for Republicans whyyyyy
- Missed Politics major dinner (just slipped my mind)
The In-Between
- Much homework to think about. History reading, Constitutional Interpretation paper as Justice Sotomayor.
- Birthday in two weeks ... no plans so far.
- coughcoughsurprisepartypleasefriendscoughcough
Monday, October 18, 2010
You Pierce My Soul
Better day today, largely because of:
Persuasion
Sense and Sensibility (2008)
Still feel a little like this, though:
Please be more awesome, life.
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