Train Friend

Well, really, it was the bus back from Battle Creek. I sat next to this guy. And we started chatting. He was in Chicago visiting his brother. He'd just graduated from MSU and is still in the East Lansing area. It became clear that we were both interested in peace and justice studies...and then we came to find out that we had several friends in common. (Us peace folks...we like to connect with each other. lol.) So we had a very fun time chatting the whole way. Given that the bus ride was at 11 pm, I'm sure everyone around us wished that we were silent like everyone else on the bus...but oh well. We weren't that loud or obnoxious, I don't think. And it was fun.

Thanksgiving

was spent mostly in Battle Creek. Saw most of my really close friends and got some one-on-one time with all of them. Life was good. And now, back to the dorms...and back to work.

CEM 186H and TAXOL!!!!

YAY! For CEM 186H (second semester honors chem lab), students are required to prioritize projects. They are put in a research team headed up by a prof and work in that lab on that project for the semester.
And beautiful, beautiful world. I got my first choice.
Re-engineering Taxol...an anti-cancer drug. YAY! Becca's favorite!
I'm so excited!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hey all...I'm in Battle Creek visiting friends for the weekend. I have rather limited internet access. So have a wonderful Thanksgiving, focus on your family instead of your computers and my blog, and I'll talk to you all on Sunday!
Love love love!

"Batman" TV Series!!

Bailey found the first fifteen episodes of "Batman" on the internet!!! And we watched two tonight. And they were SO wonderful!!
Best Qualities of Series:
1. EVERY Tool and Button is Labeled (Bat Radar Scan, US and Canada Crime Computer, Air Vent)
2. During fight scenes, words such as "Kabam," "Pow," "Ouch!," and "Biff" were actually shown on screen in front of the live-action pushes.
And it's WONDERFUL!

New Experience!

Well, that was fun. I just had my first experience getting rid of a friend's drunker suitor. Poor Elena caught the attention of an upperclassmen who lives in the building. He's a really fun guy...but he likes to drink. And doesn't seem to think it's a bad idea to come to her room at 12:30 am on a Monday. You'd hate to get through a full semester of college without dealing with at least one drunk, though, so there it is.

Oops...

I have had my first major "Oops" moment...I skipped a meeting last night. It was an irregularly planned meeting, but it was definitely written down on the schedule and I shouldn't have missed it. Oh, well. Life goes on.

Kamden's Sick

Everybody pray/send good wishes/whatever to Kamden (my pastor's baby whom I love to pieces). He's been throwing up rather incessantly for the past 24-plus hours. They were supposed to celebrate his dad's birthday today...there went that idea!

Condo Visit

A group of folks went to see the condo today...Bailey's pretty much set on staying on campus though. She just really doesn't like having to travel the distance. And the rest of the group is all waiting to hear what everyone else decides...this could be a long process, figuring everything out.

Spartan Dischords Christmas Concert

I know, I know. A Christmas concert before Thanksgiving. But in order to have a Christmas concert, they kinda had to do it before Thanksgiving. We come back from that break, have a week, and then have finals. So it's a bit nuts.
Anyways, the concert was really good. They did about half and half for Christmas/holiday songs and "regular" hits. A particularly enjoyable act was "Christmas Soup"...random bits and pieces of favorite carols and songs all mashed together into an absurd collection. Very fun.

TDOR

Yesterday was Transgender Day of Remembrance. We had a vigil in front of the Hannah Administration Building. Needless to say, the candles did not stay lit well...

Hello Again

I'm terribly sorry...I totally forgot about the whole blog-thing for a day apparently. But I'm here. Happy "week till Thanksgiving" day!
Yesterday was crazy...long chem lab, choir practice, the Traveling Chautauqua's "Do the Right Thing" screening, and a harder problem set than usual. But it was all fun and I got through it.

Running in the Snow

I haven't run in a while...but it snowed. And i ran. And I'll definitely be continuing so long as it snows...because snow+run=fun for Becca. It's just so pretty...and the temperature is perfect...love it.

Exploding Pringles Cans

Put methane in one can with a hole on both ends of the can, hydrogen in another. Light the top whole to burn the gas. Hydrogen flies into the air and hits the ceiling. Methane blows the lid of the container off. It's rather spectacular.

Today in safety with Dave Morrissey, open flame burning methane was left unattended while he left the room to fill up the hydrogen can...

Case Competition

Act for Justice was going to do the Case Competition with Clayborne Carson as our nominee for the Multicultural Heroes Hall of Fame. Turns out that we have to choose from a list of nominees and present on that individual. I'm kind of bummed...we were going to do a lot of research on Clay and present at the Undergraduate Research Forum as well. So now we have to decide whether or not we're going to do the Case Competition anyways...

Baby-Sitting

I got to baby-sit yesterday! Kennetha (pastor) and Kee's anniversary is Wednesday. Kamden fell asleep in the car on the way home, so the first hour or so was spent holding a sleeping infant on the couch while Keeton showed me his rock collection. When Kamden woke up, we played a little bit and threw toys around for him while Keeton and I played "Sorry." It was absolutely wonderful...

Nash Equilibrium

We've been working in Econ on game theory and Nash equilibriums...we had a very fun discussion today going through the scene from "A Beautiful Mind" where Nash 'discovers' his equilibrium idea. (The one where the boys are all in a bar and there are four brunettes and one gorgeous blond and he realizes each of the boys should go for a brunette and forget the blond.) We got into economics and sexism like crazy...lots and lots of fun.

"Hamlet 2"

Don't roll your eyes...yes, I seriously went to see it. And here's the thing...most of the actual movie is just random stupidity that some folks find entertaining and some don't. And that's fine and all. So most of you would probably hate the majority of the movie. But the part that's actually the play...oh my goodness. It was phenomenal. "Rock Me, Sexy Jesus" was one of the funniest moments of my life. It was glorious. Fantastic. Superb. Dad's reaction to "The Song That Goes Like This" has NOTHING on my response to this scene. Oh my word. I'm going to stop typing now...for those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, please feel free to totally disregard the last thirty seconds or so of your lives.

Let it Snow!

It's snowing big, fat, white, glorious, beautiful snowflakes this morning!!! I'm in the cafeteria right now about to leave for church...it's going to be wonderful! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! I get to baby-sit for Kennetha's boys today after church, so maybe we'll get some snow to play in! Ooh...maybe I should go get some real shoes...

iBook G4

I'm currently using my father's iBook G4...that is to say, not Fred. Fred is with Papa being fixed. He, Mum, Megan (friend), and Granna came into town yesterday for the Spartan Spectacular, a big music fest put on by the School of Music each year with the focus being the marching band. It's something we've done for years and I love so very much. It was awesome to attend my first as an actual Spartan! The "Alma Mater" is actually MY "Alma Mater" now. 'Twas glorious.
And I'll see the parents again next weekend for Chris' (cousin) birthday party. So hopefully I won't have this ridiculous iBook for more than a week. Lovely as it is, it just isn't my Fred...But thank you to Papa for loaning me this one and working on my baby!

Friday

Yesterday was a lovely day...did some PA research, worked a bit around the house, had an LBGT Panel with the Faculty Learning Inclusiveness (or something like that). This was the first panel where we weren't the only ones...they brought in several "underrepresented" student groups. Several folks here with a program that helps migrant workers and their children get their GEDs and a Muslim Students Association representative were also there. It was nice to hear their stories, and I chimed in a bit with the MSA rep. Transgender Day of Remembrance is coming up; PRISM, RHA, and TransAction brought in the mother of a transwoman who was brutally murdered in California to speak. Sylvia is a strong Christian; it was interesting to hear her take on trans issues as a Christian and a mother. Let's just say I cried a lot.

I've Got a Crush

On Immanuel Kant. Don't get excited, Dad. We're talking about him in PHL 353 today. And I think I like the dude, for the most part.

Arabic

Arabic is getting truly fun. I can say stuff! My vocabulary is building. It's glorious; simply glorious.
Have a beautiful day, all my loves!

Chem Lab Today

I was naughty in chem lab today...I skipped a rather important step of separating out some product before using the rest in another reaction. Oops...so there went part of my experiment. And it wasn't possible to just steal someone else's, because we're synthesizing aspirin and were supposed to be comparing our own crude vs. pure. (I used all the crude and was supposed to keep some.) Oh, well. Silly Becca, crude is for testing! lol.

Lies

Fred is not well. Humph. Depression. Runs beautifully in safe mode though...

Update on Friend's Bike

A comment from my mother reminded me I haven't given the rest of the bike story. Turns out the bike I broke the key in was, in fact, the correct tha bike. I'm just that skillful. The good news there, however, is that he had an extra key. So it wasn't really much of an issue. Other than the fact that Becca just had an epic fail day. lol.

Haha

Dick (my PHL 353: Peace and Justice Studies professor) just referred to George Bush as a "closet socialist." I found it funny.

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today has been a very glorious day. I got my bike back from the Bike Store, and she runs BEAUTIFULLY.
Fred has been "purged" and is now running happily. He's not perfect yet, as there are still some programs that need to be run and he's not as customized as he was. So we'll have to continue playing, but it looks like it's something I can take care of instead of having to do massive re-computerization. Yay!!

Going "Offline"

Fred is going into the shop in just an hour or so...So I will be "offline" for the most part. It may be a few days until I blog again...but hopefully, when I do, it will be with Fred back and healthy.
Love to all!

Everything I Touch...

Seems to break.
My bike was in the shop. Good news! It's ready. So I can get it tomorrow.
My computer is running only in safe mode. It needs to go into the shop.
I had what was supposedly a 4 o'clock meeting. I have chem lab until 3:50. So I asked a friend to borrow his bike. No problem. He gives me the key. It's the red one closest to the building. I get out there. There are, of course, in the vicinity of 10 red bikes right next to the building. I try the key in ones that look most like my memories of Sean's. I insert the key into one. It fits. I turn. It breaks.
And that's just the way the cookie crumbles...Not to mention, the meeting was delayed until 4:30. And no one told us. So I left chem lecture early and broke my friend's bike key for no reason.

More on Fred

So I can start Fred in Safe Mode with Networking and get online and to the files I need. But he's not Fred. And I can't access all of my programs. I've tried System Repair and whatnot to no avail. So tomorrow, I guess it's off to the MSU Computer Store. I just hope they can help...but mostly, I can't understand what on earth could be wrong with him...

Fred

Fred is my computer. Fred is currently broken in some unknown way. So Fred will be visiting the MSU Computer Store tomorrow. But don't expect much blogging for the next few days...

Detroit

Today I shall be in Detroit beginnig preliminary research on the history of the Black Church in Detroit. Got up and had a great run this morning, so life is good!

Lots of Studying

I would tell you about my day, but I don't know that you'd find it all that exciting. One meeting regarding the Peace and Justice Specialization - we're recruiting at the College of Arts and Letters Open House next Wednesday - and lots of homework. The chemistry lab write-up involves actual thought rather than simply plug and chug this week. FUN!

Arabic:Visiting Professor

Milad couldn't be at Arabic today, but he sent in a sub: A visiting professor from Egypt. The guy was really fun, very energetic. Threw chalk at one of the native speakers who's in the class for an easy "A." It was rather entertaining.

El Azteco

Bailey's mom was in town visiting and she wanted to take us all out to eat. I suggested El Azteco...and they had "buy one get one free" fajitas! 'Twas a glorious day. So we ate lots of fajitas really cheap. And life was good.

Today has been

a glorious day. Mostly because I'm still riding a wave of ecstasy...

Election Results in General

So, something other than Obama (HECK YES!) happened yesterday.

In Michigan: stem cell research AND medical marijuana. Was not expecting both of thsoe to come through.

In California: close, very close, but same-sex marriage is down the tubes again. Florida, Arizon, and Arkansas had similar legislation, including a "no-adoption" line. So that's fairly depressing.

One of my friends is hopeful for federal civil unions, but we shall see.

But don't get too depressed, no matter what happens...cause BARACK OBAMA IS THE PRESIDENT-ELECT!!!

He did it!

He didn't just do it, he REALLY did it!!!!! He "thumped" McCain. Thank you, CNN.

HEHEHEHEHEHEHEEEEEEHEHEEEEE!!!!

YAY!!!

And that's all I have to say about that. Mostly because I'm trying not to gloat.

I'm Here

Sorry I haven't written much, yesterday and this morning have been fairly boring. I'm terrified about the election...

Sunday

'Twas a day. Church, "Almost, Maine," Act for Justice, Students for Peace and Justice.
Kamden (the baby) has an ear infection, so I missed my weekly baby fix : (
But "Almost, Maine" was an amazing show I really, really enjoyed. Highly recommend it if you ever get the show. About an "almost-town" in Maine. One night where everyone has a romantic encounter of varying degrees. Happy, sad, touching. I cried like five times. But they were wonderful tears. Loved it so much. Very well played. Great happiness!

Hair, Anyone?

Thought I'd show you the "glory" that was my hair last night.