Mumbai=Yum

The Peace and Justice Studies Specialization held their end-of-year celebratory lunch today. Beth ordered us lunch from Mumbai, an Indian restaurant at which I've not dined. But YUM. They have this utterly fantastic chicken cooked in a tomato bisque broth. It is AMAZING.

"Sherlock Holmes"

Finally saw the new movie with Robert!
For me, the biggest mystery was trying to figure out who the heck the guy who played Lord Blackwell is. He's in "Fever Pitch" with Colin Firth...
AH HA! Thank you, Yahoo! movies. "Stardust!" Hahahaha. There we go.
And Mary also played the very lovely Miss Caroline Bingley in Keira's version of "Pride and Prejudice."

Passport!

My passport arrived today. With it came my original birth certificate. Repeat after me, Rebecca: I will not lose these important documents. I will not lose these important documents.

Okay, that hurt

Warning: This is a slightly gross (in the kindergarten way) story.

I was at the RING e-board party tonight. We had massive amounts of Chinese food. And, funny people that we are, there were many jokes and lots of laughter. Unfortunately, the timing was not always all that great.

Fact: Becca likes white rice.
Fact: At one point this evening, Becca had a mouthful of white rice.
Fact: Becca laughs really hard sometimes.
Fact: The human mouth and sinus tubes are connected.
Fact: It is possible to snort not only liquids, but soft, large grains of rice through your nose.
Fact: Sneezing white rice is not an experience I wish to repeat.

Last class!

In thirty-four minutes, I will begin my last class of the 2009-2010 year. Good heavens! It's almost exam week. I truly do not know how that happened...time flies when you're having fun.

Last Day

It just hit me...today's the last day of classes. : (
No more Ben. No more Mark. No more Andrea. No more Heather. No more Mike. No more...
Well, this is depressing. I thought I was going to cry yesterday...I'm almost certainly going to do so today. I'm practically doing so now.
Good gracious, I'm pathetic.

Grampa's Chem Lecture

Grampa gave a lecture this afternoon. The Chemistry Department brings in retired folks to chat about their work and whatnot.
And I saw an absurd number of people that I know. Mark, the guy I worked under in the lab last year, was there, as was the head chemist of that lab. Hong Ren, my TA in organic chemistry last semester, was also there, as was my prof for that course. And a guest lecturer I had in a class once. And another girl who worked in Kevin's lab.
Almost makes me want to be back in a science degree...sigh. So much to want, so little time.

Fall 2010

I will be taking the following courses:
ANP 422: Religion and Culture
ANP 429: Ethnographic Field Methods
ANP 489: Capstone (Project on Israeli Women of Peace)
EC 340H: Survey of International Economics
MC 386: Women and Power
PHL 452: Ethics of Development
PHL 490: Independent Study creating the Peace and Justice Teaching Archive

I will be working 10-12 hours/week at the Center for Gender in a Global Context as their undergraduate intern.
I will be working ~5 hours/week on a research project, studying the emergence of monotheism. (!!!!)

The other major projects are co-chairing the Campus Interfaith Council and program development for LBGT issue education (this may be some kind of internship at the LBGT Resource Center; we're not yet sure).

Solved!

I am now enrolled in ANP 429: Ethnographic Field Methods. It's the required methods course for my anthro degree. I'll be learning different methods for studying populations, ethical issues involved, etc. And it's in the same room as my capstone course, ending twenty minutes before said course. I like minimizing transportation and transaction costs.
ANP 429 was on the slate for 2011-2012...so this way I can just wait around and hope that another religious studies course in Islam is offered that year.

Chicken Tenders!

I have successfully prepared home-fried chicken tenders! And only the first few were burnt (the oil was a wee bit too warm).
I must say, raw chicken marinating in old buttermilk and egg is NOT the most appetizing thing I've ever seen. But they turned out yummy!

Philosophy Final

Getting a paper done a week and a half before it is due so that you can turn it in during the last class of the semester and then be completely done with that course feels SO GOOD.

Boo hoo!

They just canceled my Modern Muslim Thought class. I am very, seriously, truly, incredibly depressed. : (
And now, to figure out what else will work...

Oh, What a Beautiful Morning...

Actually, it's rather cold. But I'm skipping out on a few things I could do if I were inclined to be useful to the campus community and running home after my last class of the day at 1:30. Tonight, experimentation with home-fried chicken fingers will be happening. I'm looking forward to all sorts of excitement.

Huzzah!

I will be going to Annual Conference this year as a district rep. Thank you, Tim Tuthill.

Good grief! Online registration for that thing was absurd! Next time, dear Church, how about separate forms for the different categories of folks attending? And perhaps a bit more explanation for folks - you are, in fact, an "Equalization" member. At least I hope I am...

I'm Cute!

I will have you know that I have officially been proclaimed "so cute" by Lindsey. She came out of her room while I was dancing and singing with Bing and Louis during a viewing of "High Society" this weekend.
I, of course, knew how adorable I was prior to this. But it's nice to have it confirmed.
Oi.

Epi Class=Breasts

What am I studying in epidemiology for the next few days? Breasts. No, really. Not even breast cancer. Plastic surgery and breast implants. What a way to wind up the semester...

Oh my word.
He's passing around the implants for us to see...he's got a fake tit that's older than I am.

Bach!

Yesterday was Music Sunday at church. We brought in a ton of students and did Bach's "Kantate #4." 'Twas quite lovely. Chris was thrilled with the classical music. Lindsey, Christi, and I think we should do "Musical Sunday" next year instead and sing songs about love, peace, justice, etc. from Broadway hits.

"Rent"

Just returned from the Department of Theater's production of "Rent." I was very impressed; they did a great job technically. Most of the actors were quite good. Did not like "Take Me or Leave Me," which was depressing, as it's one of the funnest songs in the show. (Editorial comment - "funnest" no longer appears as misspelled. Heehee.)

Lindsey's 21st

I successfully prepared and served blueberry pancakes with Mum's special sauce, bacon, and strawberries for Lindsey, her sister, and an old friend who stayed the night yesterday after partying at Rum Runner's. We currently look like total boozers, as Christi (sister) made an absurd number of jello shots. Open our fridge, find two bottles of booze and like fifty shots. Excellent.
(No, I didn't have anything.)

Serenade

I went to the State of Fifths (campus a cappella group) concert tonight. I sat center forward...and Spencer sang to me! You know that girl who gets pointed at when the guy sings the love song? That was me tonight. : ) Fun feeling.

(Don't get excited, Papa. He's gay.)

French Toast

Today, I discovered that I have inherited my father's amazing french toast-making abilities. I have also discovered how easy and quick it is. "Cool!" says you. "Oh crap, this could be a problem" says I.

GenCen Internship!

"We'll be in touch towards the beginning of next week..."
Or maybe you'll just tell me twenty-four hours later.

"
Show this HTML in a new window?

Hello Rebecca,



It was good meeting with you yesterday to discuss the Diversity and Global Change Undergraduate Internship with the Center for Gender in Global Context (GenCen). We are pleased to tentatively offer you the position beginning Fall Semester 2010. As discussed during your interview, this offer is contingent on our receiving US Department of Education Title VI funding. We should know some time in June and will confirm with you as soon as we hear. You will work 10-12 hours per week at a rate of $8.00 per hour. If you accept this offer, please let us know as soon as possible so we can notify other candidates that the position is filled.



Thank you and we look forward to working with you.



Anne Ferguson and Lisa Fine

GenCen Co-Directors
-----------------------------------------
Center for Gender in Global Context
206 International Center
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824 USA
Phone: 517-353-5040
Fax: 517-432-4845
Website: http://www.gencen.msu.edu"

Unite 4 Haiti

And it's done! We raised a little over $1200 with tickets, food, and t-shirt sales. We'll bring in another bunch with the silent auction, art auction, and a free will offering at a panel discussion happening this weekend.
I got home past midnight last night and just crashed. I was fully hoping to sleep most of the day away...but no. Up I got at 7:42, very much awake. Ah, well. Guess I'll get lots done today!

Doughnut Holes

Well, the card Daddy asked me to sign is signed. Ran into church, kissed Grampa, ran around screaming for Papa for a bit with a doughnut hole in my mouth, signed card, grabbed another doughnut hole, ran out the door eating said hole.
Whose doughnut holes did I just eat? lol.

Gideon Bible

Hahahahaha. My Hindu anthro prof has a green Testament from the Gideons sitting on his table today. Why did he take one? This is fascinating.

GenCen Interview

Does it count as your first interview if it lasted for nine minutes, and they talked at least as much as I did?
I've got the job. I know there are other qualified folks, but there is no way I'm not getting offered...

Oh, Thursday

5 - wake up and sort out volunteers for tonight; send email reminder
Sleep a bit more
6:45 - up and shower
8:30 - present Honors option work in Anthropology 220
10 - interview for internship at Center for Gender in a Global Context
10:20 - class
11:45 - lunch meeting
12:20 - drop by church to sign something for dad
12:40 - class
1:30 - sprint to the Rock
All day - UNITE 4 HAITI IS TONIGHT! We're doing a massive Talent Fest fundraiser for Haiti. I will be running around frantically until midnight or so. Yay!

Revised Schedule

They changed the time of my Modern Muslim Thought next semester. Luckily, they did not change it to a time that made it impossible for me to take. They did, however, cause a bit of a change in the schedule. So, next year, I will be taking:

Fall 2010
Religious Studies: Modern Muslim Thought
Philosophy: Ethics of Development
James Madison College: Women and Power
Economics: Survey of International Economics (Honors section)
Anthropology: Religion and Culture
Anthropology: Capstone (basically an independent project on Israeli women of peace)
Religious Studies: Independent Study on Monotheism

Spring 2011
James Madison College: International Security (taught by a prof I like with a lot of attention to humanitarian intervention)
James Madison College: Politics and Society in the Third World
James Madison College: Politics and Society in the Middle East
Economics: Economics of Health Care
Economics: Economic Analysis of Sub-Saharan Africa
Economics: Issues in the Economies of Developing Countries

Gideon Day!

The Gideons were out in full force today...seriously. They were practically every ten feet on my way from International Relations to Judaism. It was absurd.

Great Moment in REL

I don't know why my classes have been so sex-jokey lately, but...
Feminism in Judaism on Monday. Ben's talking about the masculinity of God and how God is always referred to as "He" in the Hebrew Bible. But God's not just a "he" - that "He" is always capital. So says Ben: "This isn't just any penis, this is a capital penis."

Good Moment in ANP

I'm in a crude mood (for no reason whatsoever), so I'll share this absurd story from Sociocultural Diversity last week.
We were speaking about the fact that, at the "end" of Marxist evolution, people are valued only for their economic output capability rather than their actual selves. Everything and everyone becomes a commodity to be bought and sold. Selling labor on the open market leads to pornography as opposed to erotica, where we have "free-floating" sexual body parts rather than an actual love story. So we were in this massive discussion of pornography. Everyone's feeling kind of awkward but loving what's going on. And, at perhaps the most perfect moment (which I won't spell out for the sake of this being a family-friendly blog), someone's laptop said "Your purchase is complete."
It was fantastic.

Golden RING Awards

Last night, RING needed to do our elections. So we had the "Golden RING Awards." Paper plate Oscars were awarded with occasional breaks for speech-making, debate, and balloting. We had fancy food, fake champagne, etc. 'Twas quite the adorable way to do elections, I must say. I had practically nothing to do with it, clearly, seeing as how it was adorable.

Oh yeah, baby

Who just received a 4.0 on a five-page paper for her 400-level philosophy class?
That would be me.

Yay!

Schedule change! Madison College switched one of its class times. And, shockingly, it made my schedule easier! I now get to take MC 324A: Regional Politics in the Middle East with Yael Aronoff next spring. Yael is the prof with whom I'm going to Israel this summer. Yay!

Grrr

Dear IVAC (International Volunteer Action Corps),
I think that you should NOT put your flyers for an event coming up this Saturday to help save African children by walking ON TOP of my flyers for an event coming up this Thursday to help save Haitian children through Partners in Health. Especially when, right next to my flyer, is a flyer for an apartment complex. Why on earth does it feel more beneficial to your overall goal to cover up my flyer than the apartment complex's? What on earth IS your overall goal?
Sigh.

Love it!

I just read an article for my political economy class in James Madison while sitting in my epidemiology class listening to a lecture on mad cow disease. This is not a discussion of my multi-tasking talents. What was the article for Madison about, you ask? Trade policies and MAD COW DISEASE! Hahahaha. Life is good.

Homelessness Simulation

Go HERE to see a bit about the project this weekend.

Oi vay

It drives me CRAZY when students, sitting in a classroom discussing Jewish feminism and how we might get away from God as "He," refer continuously to God as "He" in their discussion.
Yes, you may have a male God if you wish one. But can we not try to be sensitive, at least on the day we're talking about it!?!?

Yeah. Someone totally just, in speaking about finding other terms for God, said "call him she." Wow, dude.

UURAF

Had a question about the University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum...
I presented the Peace and Justice Teaching Archive I've been creating with my professorial assistantship this year. We hired two other undergraduate students, and a lot of my work has been supervisory/organizational. They presented with me. It was very interesting, putting the presentation together, as I had a different role in this research than I'd had before.
It went well. Dick (mentor professor) and Steve (advisor of Peace and Justice Studies) seemed very pleased.

What a weekend

Well. I'm still alive.

Friday: Up at 5:47 (I was up a bit earlier but utterly failed to get out of bed. And then fell asleep. But woke up at 5:47 without an alarm. What is wrong with me?)
7:30 - Get folks on their way to the Homelessness Simulation
8:30 - Meet and practice for the University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum.
10 - Present at UURAF
11:50 - Lunch and Shopping for Children's Overnight at Church with Krista, Children's Ministries Director
2:30 - Back to Homelessness Simulation.
We slept outside. It was COLD (~36).

Saturday:
7:45 - Leave for Keep Making Peace at Central UMC. Attend conference, help serve lunch, run projector.
5 - Debriefing Dinner for Homelessness Simulation
8 - Arrive late to Children's Overnight at Church. Spend the evening helping with programming (aka, after a bit of work, eating candy and watching "The Princess and the Frog").
Sleep at church on couch.

Sunday:
Get up early. Feed hungry children. Do some work on laptop. Youth Sunday at church. (The boys did a great job with the sermon.)
Lunch with Amy at Fiesta Charra
Make it home after some drama.

Take a shower for the first time since Friday - not to mention be in some clothes OTHER than the same outfit since Friday morning (though I had a different top for Friday due to presentation...but other articles of clothing were rather disgusting).

And now, getting miscellaneous work done on my computer, pretty much unable to move due to the weird places I've been sleeping at lately. Bed is gonna feel GOOD tonight.

Woohoo!

Apparently I also got the Cole Award from the Honors College...it's showing up on my StuInfo page. The Honors College hasn't notified me of this yet, though. Fascinating.

Ah ha! They have. They sent it through the Office of the Registrar rather than an actual email. Yay for another $500. And $250 from Greer - I think I told you that. So Israel's going to cost me around $4125, including airfare, housing, and tuition - but not food.

Score!

Apparently I was in the running for Office of Study Abroad scholarships. Because I just got an email saying I've won two $750 awards. Huzzah!

Peanut Butter Playdough

Dude! If you beat equal parts peanut butter and marshmallow cream, it becomes edible playdough. It's craziness! Two freakishly sticky things. Combined. And suddenly it's not sticky! (I mean, it's sticky, but not to your fingers...you know what I mean.)
Chemistry and physics are awesome, dude.

Flowers!

I just saw an adult male literally taking time to stop and smell the flowers...just outside of Berkey, there's a very fine-smelling bush. He walked past it, made a "yum!, sound, and turned back to smell it intensely. 'Twas quite adorable.

And an update on Kedzie tulips: That's quite a lot of color! But still only on the north half...I hope they're all in healthy bloom together at some point, because it really is pretty.

Really, people?

As I was biking to Berkey, I saw a couple holding hands while the guy was texting. Their fingers were intertwined.
Now, I am all for PDA and touchy-feeliness, heaven knows. But can you seriously not let go of her hand for thirty seconds while you send off the text? Good grief, boy.

Homelessness Simulation

This weekend, Students for Peace and Justice and Students for Social Work are leading a Homelessness Simulation. ~20 students will experience "living homeless" for a couple of days. Friday they'll try to navigate the aid system, collecting food, blankets, filling out forms, etc. We'll be sleeping outside at the Rock Friday night, no matter the weather. Saturday will be spent in service and community engagement.

We're sending a big group to Haven House on Saturday to play with the kids for a few hours and have lunch together. Any ideas on cheap, easy crafts/edible activities?

Awesome Name!

We have a professor in the Department of French, Classics and Italian with the name Violin-Wigen. Dude. All I got was Farnum.
There is no justice in the world.

Oh, crap

I think I failed to get in a form to the Office of Study Abroad for scholarship application and thus am not in the running. I was wondering when that notification would come...
That's massively depressing. I like OSA money. Oh, well. Apparently my fault. (I seriously don't remember being told to fill out that form, though. Just submitted my separate merit essay online. And it's weird that they wouldn't have emailed me to tell me to bring in the form - they're generally nice about that.)

Tulip Update

I think the poor tulips are very confused...there are random patches of gorgeously bloomed immediately next to patches that are barely through the ground. Usually they bloom altogether in glorious harmony...

Yay!

Finally and at last, I am properly enrolled for this summer. There were major issues with open sections, the humanities class I needed to enroll in rather than the Madison-coded class being available, etc. But we're good now! One tick off the to do list...

Term Paper In!

My term paper has been turned in for MC 221. Good news: It's done. Bad news: It actually came out more like a proposal for a thesis than an actual, conclusive research paper. Oh dear...
And no, it's not really a thesis I'd like to do. I'd like someone to do it - I think it's important. I just don't want to spend that many hours...

Oh, no

I mentioned earlier that "Glee" was back on...
This totally shouldn't be a problem. I can watch them whenever. Do I like it? Yes. Am I addicted? No.
Except...everyone is going to be talking about it. It's going to be like not reading the newest "Harry Potter" for several weeks (though not possibly quite that traumatic). I'm going to find out that Sirius died too early all over again...
The good news is, I don't care nearly as much. But it's still annoying. Argh.

"Mulan"

"I'll Make a Man Out of You" just came on my Disney Pandora station...I seriously want to watch (well, listen to) "Mulan." Curses on you, Netflix, for not having it available via streaming...

Haha

Oh, the show "Glee." People are incredibly excited about the fact that it begins tonight. My favorite expression from the Facebook conversation happening: "OMGlee."
Wow.

Movie Review

Dear Cast and Crew of "She's the Man,"
Your movie is amazing. It really is. It cracks me up. It puts me to sleep when I need it to, provides me with a good soundtrack to my homework, is a fantastic film to show to friends when we just want to have fun, and is always capable of cracking me up. However, I feel like I really must speak to the few absolute absurdities and impracticalities that exist in this fine production.
1. There is NO WAY in heck that Amanda Bynes' character would not be regularly accused of being gay. None.
2. There is not a high school in all of America at which the marching band performs and attends all soccer games.
3. Even if number two is, in fact, false, I absolute refuse to believe that there is a high school in all of America at which hot, Dallas Cowboy-style cheerleaders perform during the halftimes of soccer matches.

There is more...but I need to leave for a workshop at the Honors College. To be continued...

GenCen Interview

I have my first real job interview next Thursday...the Center for Gender in a Global Context is taking on an intern or two next year. Here's hoping! (It is strange to think that this actually my first ever real interview.)

Noodles & Co

Noodles & Co is this fantastic restaurant with a ton of different kinds of pastas. I really love their Pad Thai. And we got Noodles for an eboard retreat this weekend. Which meant I went to buy eight bowls of Noodles. They have "Buy 10, Get 1" cards, and I got eight stamps with that purchase. A couple of months earlier, I purchased a bowl for myself and handed over my Student Alumni Foundation discount card. The cashier forgot to apply my discount, so she gave me several extra stamps. So I went to get my free bowl of Noodles today. The free ones come with up to two "add-ons" (cheese, meat, etc.). I just get Pad Thai, as it's much cheaper to not get meat, and the Pad Thai doesn't really need it. But since I got up to two, I ordered two breasts of Parmesan-crusted chicken, since they just sit on top and I could pull them off to make another fantastic meal later.
So that was fantastic. However, Noodles & Co. clearly does not know the meaning of "crapload." Pad Thai has cilantro on it...and I love cilantro. Deeply and abidingly. But they clearly don't understand "with a crapload of cilantro." Perhaps next time I will try to give them more precise directions. "I'd like a one-to-one ratio of cilantro to noodles, please."

Theories

I have a problem. I really like to think. I have a lot of fun with theories. But what good does sitting around thinking do anyone? Humph.

Tulips are Coming!

The huge tulip fields by Kedzie Hall are coming! I saw buds while I was biking by today. Color is visible but nothing is fully open. They're going to be gorgeous by next Monday, though.

Rice Pudding

I am a fan. Seriously. I adore it. I adore it even more given that my favorite recipe is from a one-room Sunday school lesson I taught when I was like thirteen.

Oh, come on!

The last LeFrak lecture is tonight...and it's on the Holocaust. I read the description:
"The LeFrak Forum's "Religion and Modernity" lecture series continues on Monday, April 12 with a lecture by Professor Ruth Wisse of the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University, at the Kellogg Center, 8:00 pm, in the Lincoln Room. Professor Wisse's lecture is titled: How God Survived Auschwitz: The Testimony of Yiddish."
Sounded like it mostly was going to be some fun linguistics stuff, very scholarly. And now I'm holding a page of Holocaust poetry in my hand, trying to not read it but knowing I'm about to be assaulted with emotional lecture.
Dagnabit.

Laffy Taffy Joke

I thought this one was vaguely funny:

Q: What kind of birds flock together?
A: Vel crows!

Hahaha.

That was depressing

Got a few minutes alone with Ben today...he complimented me again on my presentation Friday. So that was nice. But then he asked if I'd heard from Tikvah, and I had to let him know I wasn't accepted. Seeing his face was crushing...
I am such a people-pleaser.

Dang it...

We're talking about the Holocaust today. I hate these moments...I will now feel physically sick for the next several hours...ugh.

Happy Spring, Dairy Store!

I'm sitting in the Union waiting for a meeting to start...
And everyone and their mother has ice cream. Seriously, people.

Facebook Advertising

Dear Facebook:
You are losing your touch. Seriously, people. What on earth makes you think that I am interested in the "Black Legal Network?" lol.

"How to Train Your Dragon"

Utterly adorable. Absolutely, entirely, and in every way adorable.
And, for the record: Dragons are, according to DreamWorks, apparently cats. No, seriously. They chase lights, love fish, purr when scratched.

No Tikvah!

Huzzah! I was not selected to attend the Tikvah Program this summer.

"It is with regret that I inform you that you were not selected for the Tikvah Project Summer Seminar, Jewish Thought and Enduring Human Questions. We very much appreciate the time and effort you put into your application and also your patience through this selection process. We had far more excellent applicants than available seats. We hope you will consider applying again to a program offered by The Tikvah Project at Princeton and the Tikvah Fund."

I get to go to family camp guiltlessly! Sorry, dear Jewish Studies Department at MSU, very much looking forward to my going. Apologies for that. But I cannot say that I'm honestly all that sad. I would have enjoyed it very much, but I most certainly would have spent at least some of the time wishing I were on the shores of Lake Huron.

Really?

I firmly believe that one should NOT attempt to fix another individual's grammar or word choice if one does not do it properly and/or cannot use the appropriate language oneself.
"I had a chem professor in graduate school that used to butcher the English language regularly (and yes they were from the US and not a foreign national...)"
Okay. Dude. Your "a chem professor" was not a "they." Just saying.

MyCoke Rewards

To my eternal and everlasting shame, I just dreamed about collecting a ton of Coke codes...Mother, what have you DONE to me?!

Greer Award!

Huzzah! I have been awarded $250 by the Peace and Justice Studies Program at MSU to help with my living expenses in Israel while I'm researching some women's peace groups. How lovely!

Panda Express

Katie and I had a fantastic Panda Express binge today. Yay for orange chicken and sweet fire chicken. Bloody fantastic.
But, Dear Panda Express, you make no sense. Your large entrees are more expensive than your two-entree plate by $3. This made sense when your large entrees were HUGE. But they're not huge anymore. So I should have just gotten two two-entree plates. Tear.
Oh well. It's just money.

Marxism

By the way, I'm a Marxist. Just thought I'd let you know. I'm also a functionalist, though, so I don't know how that works. lol.

Good-Bye Power

Our power went out last night. Had no idea that there was such a violent storm...I totally slept all the way through whatever it was. But woke up to a not-on computer and some obviously restarted electrical devices. Luckily I woke up without incident, in spite of a lack of alarm.

"This I Believe"

Tada! My essay, to be read aloud (by me) Friday night:

“I believe in doubt.” For some of us in the room tonight, these words sound familiar. It’s because they are the words with which Eddy Bismo*, a fellow ADS recipient, opens his Personal Statement. The Personal Statements that we’ve been reviewing in our ADS/UDS Program this past year.
“I believe in doubt,” says Eddy. He goes on to discuss how nothing is certain but uncertainty. He argues for the importance of continuous questioning, of unceasing cross-examination.
And I agree with Eddy. I believe in doubt. I believe that we must challenge perceptions. I believe that we must question authoritative knowledge. I believe in doubt.
But belief in doubt is a funny thing. Because, in order to believe in doubt, there is something in which one must believe first. And that is belief itself.
And so, tonight I say to you: I believe in belief.
I believe in belief. I believe in the power of faith as a motivator and a guide. I believe in the power of beliefs to shape the world and the people in it. And I believe in the power that belief has to make what was impossible before belief existed newly possible. I believe that, by believing something can happen, we gain the capacity to make it happen.
Fifty years ago, the majority of the world’s population did not believe that it was possible for man to walk on the moon. And, in 1960, it wasn’t. What made our walking on the moon in 1969 possible was the fact that someone doubted the belief that we couldn’t, that someone believed that we could. We live in a world today where man has walked on the moon because someone believed in this world. And from that belief this world was created. If no one had believed it, it would not have happened. I believe in belief.

I study peace and justice in Africa and the Middle East. And there are times when I wonder at the arrogance of myself. How many white liberals have come before me, wanting to make a difference in this region torn by conflict and ended up simply making a bigger mess of things. What on earth makes me think that I can do a bit of good?
The simple response is “nothing, really.” I’m not incredibly smarter than others who have gone before me. I’m not better prepared, better connected, better equipped. But somehow, I can’t help but believe that there is something I can do. Because I believe that the world is good. I believe that humanity is good. I have seen that beautiful spark that is mankind’s ability to love each other unconditionally. I have seen what joy that spark can bring. And I want nothing more in this life than to make that spark into a roaring inferno.
I am told that I am young and idealistic to think that this is possible. But one thing I know: So long as we believe that this is impossible, it is. There is too much stuff in the world for us to yet claim that anything is impossible. We have come too far to put a damper on dreams. I believe that it is possible for mankind to love her fellow man. I believe that peace in the Middle East is possible. I believe that ending prejudice in truth is possible. I believe it is possible to create a world of love.
I believe that, from our beliefs, come our reality. I believe that we can change our reality by changing our beliefs and that this is possible. Hard and difficult, yes. But possible. And worthwhile. This I believe.

*A pseudonym, since I haven't yet received permission to use this in the speech. And because posting it online is rather different than mentioning it in a closed room of like thirty people.

Well, that's exciting

Apparently we're on a Tornado Watch...
The employees and a bunch of students are standing around in the Holden Basement. I've got class...
Ooh, ooh! PA system - oh. All-clear. I guess I have class.
That was boring. It got dark and rained a lot. And apparently MSU went under a severe weather warning and everyone officially had to congregate in safe locations. I just biked from Berkey to Holden, though...lol.

Anthropology Lecturing

Lecturing this morning went well. The class was small (i.e., folks didn't show up), but that wasn't because of me, since they didn't know it was happening. I had fun, though, and Andrea and Heather (the TA) seemed pleased.

Rain Biking

I love and hate biking right after the rain. The air is gloriously clean and smells delightful. But I'm a worm-killer. It's impossible not to run over them...and that depresses me.

Go, Philosophy Reflection Papers!

Got four-points on my last reflection papers in philosophy. We are graded on eight of ten-plus assigned for the class. I got a 3.75 on one of the parts in my third one, so I did an extra. But got them back today, and we're all set for a full 4.0 on that portion of the grade. So no more random, one-page ramblings. (Which can be fun to write but are decently annoying to print and turn in.)

Metabolism is Back!

Ah ha! I got hot today in the library. I have, thank the heavens, managed to produce heat. This is very happy news.

Some Meanderings on Madison Readings

I knocked out a bunch of the rest of the semester's readings in my Madison class today. A few thoughts:
Firstly, the authors of an international political economy textbook so did NOT just make a reference to the Mirror of Erised from "Harry Potter." That's just not okay.
Secondly, some lyrics by Michael Carey to "Pavement" speak of dinosaurs dying, forests being destroyed, etc. to make way for glorious pavement...so that rich people can bike on smooth roads and leave their autos at home. It's quite a beautiful statement. I do, though, wonder what roads he's been riding on. 'Cause mine certainly aren't what I would call smooth. lol.
And thirdly: One of the chapters began speaking about how globalization has led to increased concerns over the environment and whatnot. It was phrased in such a way to say that increased globalization has created the environment as an issue that is international in nature. I was kind of like: Umm. Dude. Is not the fact that the ENVIRONMENT, as something BEYOND our idiotic socially-drawn lines of nations, is kinda GLOBAL in nature in and of ITSELF? Seriously, people. Oy.

Brunch Fail

Poor Lindsey. I just drove her around downtown Lansing-ish, looking for a very good but little-known brunch place. But Google Maps fails, and Larch, North, and East streets do something really funky around Lake Lansing Rd. And I couldn't find it.
So we went to IHOP. I had crepes, which were quite delightful. But not Golden Harvest. (No, I'm not talking about Great Harvest Bread Co.) Seth introduced me to this place last year, and I haven't been back since, even though I keep meaning too...my 10:20 class was canceled today due to Passover, so it seemed the perfect opportunity to indulge in post-Lent brunch. Alas, I instead used it as a chance to drive us both insane and make us very hungry.
But I will find you, Golden Harvest! I'll get an email to Seth asking for exact directions...

Easter Day

Woke up at 5:30. Did some cleaning, jogged around the house a bit. Ate some cereal. (Sugar cereal! Heehee.)
Church: Got to sing "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" and the "Hallelujah Chorus." Brought in some trombones, strings, and trumpets for various musical numbers.
And then off with the Ellises!
Ate my first meat - yummy Easter ham!
They made me an Easter basket. (Aww.)
Jorgen and Hollan got an egg hunt. We played lots of N64 Super Smash Bros. (Video game. And when I say "we," I mean "Hollan goofed off, Jorgen and Alec played, and I was occasionally coerced into making a fool of myself.")
Bubba called me; we had a nice little chat. Slightly freaky is that Todd was asking about Gregory right as he called...
Barb made chocolate chip cookies (Alec had gone through four dozen pretty much himself in like three or four days the previous week); I helped hand her things and clean things up as we had a good chat.
Todd and Jorgen's birthdays are both coming up, so we then did a little party. Mint chocolate chip ice cream cake from Baskin-Robbins (yum!) and presents.
And then a fairly quiet evening. Reading, chatting, generally having a wonderful time with wonderful people.

Lecturing!

Ooh, ooh! I get to lecture in my anthropology class! So very excited.

"Hi Rebecca!
So, I have been thinking about Tuesday's class - actually the week focused on gender and religion. Christian is going to focus on Islam in Africa and the readings this week are a bit heavy on Islam. I was wondering if you would be willing to do a mini discussion on Tuesday (20 minutes or so - which can lead into a longer discussion if that is where the class takes it). I was thinking you could present some of the patriarchal notions/myths perpetuated in Christianity - broadly speaking - and how people, like you who identify as Christian, are challenging some of them. It could be quite informal and you can draw on your experiences. I know you are VERY engaged with this issue and have more expertise than I do so I was hoping to draw on your strengths. Let me know what you think. If you don't have time or you would rather not I completely understand. No pressure.
Cheers,
Andrea"

I do so adore being teacher's pet.

(And I really am, as evidenced by a later reply to our email conversation:
"Happy Easter to you, too! I am headed to my professor's for a big meal. Hope you enjoy breaking the fast! YEAH!")

Jesus Tastes Like Peeps

Even more so than grape juice. I'm sorry, but it's just a fact. I did the full Great Thanksgiving (musical setting), had homemade bread and grape juice, had a bit of my (vegan!) banana bread, and then had the traditional Peep fest. And the simple truth is that Jesus tastes like Peeps.

"Easter Carol"

From VeggieTales comes an Easter version of Dickens' "Christmas Carol." Featuring robotic chickens laying plastic eggs! 'Twas quite delightful.

Holy Saturday!

Yay! One of my favorite days of the year is here. Holy Saturday is an excuse for utter laziness, primping in preparation for Easter Sunday, exorbitant amounts of baking, and the final countdown to the glorious world of food.
Fourteen and a half hours, by the way. Though I'm not really all that hungry right now.

Baking will be lots of fun, though; I'm very much looking forward to the moment when I feel like I'm energetic enough to leave bed and actually do something other than watching movies or dinking around online in a prone position.
I'm in charge of food for the all-campus LBGT E-board hangout next Friday. One of the girls is a vegan. So I get to tackle vegan baking today! Massively excited. On the list:
Vegan peppermint patties (I'm excited to make any kind of peppermint patties, let alone vegan ones!)
Vegan chocolate-peanut butter cookies (kind of like Girl Scout Tagalongs, I think, but a bit more crunchy and cookie-y)
Vegan banana bread
And then maybe some non-vegan banana bread, depending on how many bananas and how much vegan margarine I have. And perhaps some no-bakes as well.
The banana bread, peppermint patties, and chocolate-peanut butter cookies should all freeze very well, so I'm planning to just throw them in the freezer and not touch them until Friday. I'm not sure about no-bakes. Mom?

So much for sleeping

I was really hoping to sleep forever today...I even stayed out late with Lindsey, hoping that it would encourage my body to stay in slumber. But no. Awake at 7:30. I lay in bed with my eyes closed listening to movies for two hours in a vain attempt to fall back asleep...but Morpheus is an elusive dude. Ah, well. I suppose I will just get more lazing about done that planned. lol.

Bowling and Bonfire

Lindsey and I went out last night to her brother-in-law's birthday bash. His wife/her sister Cristi sings in the church choir as well and sits just a few chairs from me. So I've heard a lot about Robin but hadn't met him before last night. As expected, I bowled fairly miserably. But the bonfire was quite delightful.

Well, I'm in Trouble Now

Kennetha (our associate pastor and a good friend) spotted me mouthing the words to the Communion Litany last night during the Maundy Thursday service. She's brought up ordination several times; last night she said she was never going to let it go now...
Oops.

"Happy" Good Friday

Dearly Beloved - God loves you so very much! Happy Good Friday. Enjoy the season...and know that Easter is coming soon!

Easter Dress!

Though I am not quite as skinny as I was last Easter (i.e., one can still tell that I am, in fact, a girl), my dress fits! I have something pretty to wear Sunday.

Forty-eight hours left of fasting!

"New in Town"

Quite adorable. Fairly predictable, but as are all movies that I really enjoy. Guess what? It ends happily! Yay. : )

1,000

Dear Readers:
Thank you for bearing with me all this time. I feel obliged to tell you that we have now reached one thousands entries on this blog. Yes, indeed. You are currently reading #1000. Congratulations.

Yay Again!

Huzzah! My CLEP credit now appears on my transcript. I was planning to go into the Registrar's Office this afternoon. Good timing! And good thing I checked. : )

Yay!

Just got the official "okay" on coding a course as a James Madison class rather than an ISS for my Asian Studies Specialization. This gives me a bit more freedom in scheduling. Senior year scheduling should not be a problem; I think I'm actually going to make it out of here with all requirements completed!
I just have to make sure they hand over some CLEP credit...

Fasting Update

Alert: My tummy is growling.
It'll stop soon, though.

Cardinal!

I saw AND heard a cardinal yesterday while I was biking past Erickson. 'Twas quite delightful.

Happy April Fool's!

And furthermore, happy April Fool's Day! Today's just full of all kinds of excitement.

Happy April!

And, while we're celebrating today, happy April!

Happy Maundy Thursday!

Today in the Christian Church we celebrate Jesus' last full day on earth, including the Last Supper he had with his disciples. I am, as always, wearing purple for the day. (And then black and gray tomorrow, lounging clothes on Saturday as I stay home baking and preparing for Easter, and white and flowers on Sunday).
On the agenda for today:
Three classes
Checking at the Registrar's Office regarding some CLEP transfer credit that is still not appearing on StuInfo
Dropping off some paperwork at the Office of Study Abroad and meeting with Asian Studies to discuss my specialization
Visiting the "Edible Book Contest" of the Residential College in the Arts & Humanities (Bailey made something)
Attending a meeting for participants of the Jewish Studies Program in Israel this summer (aka, introducing myself to a bunch of strangers as I watch them eat really good food at Sultan's. lol)
Enjoying the Maundy Thursday service tonight at church, featuring Lindsey in the bell choir and a tableau of the Last Supper
Having Kelly over to spend the night and watch lots of girly movies!