The Adventure Continued

I arrived at the Westin San Francisco Airport on Thursday, January 22nd, with anxiety and nervous energy. I was late for the opening meeting of the Residential Orientation for new students at Saybrook. Rather than being able to skulk around the circle of incoming students to find a place to sit, a woman motioned me through the middle of the circle to a seat next to her. Turns out, she’s the school’s Provost. Good start?

So, after faculty introductions, the students are asked to introduce themselves. A very eager young woman went first and said something like, “Go Hawks” because she lives near where they train. I assume that is a reference to a sports team in a league I don’t follow. So, the next person, a woman I came to know and love named Theresa, said, “Go Patriots” during her introduction. This continued around the circle with people stating their allegiance to one NFL team or another. When the introductions got to me, I said, “I’m here representing the heathen contingent, as I’m from Las Vegas, Nevada. Go gambling!” I have never seen a room bust up in laughter like that before.

Isn’t it “Singin’ in the Rain” that says that you should “make ‘em laugh”? Mission complete.

A New Adventure

On Thursday, January 22nd, I will beginning a new, difficult, and likely amazing adventure. Thursday, January 22nd, is the day I begin my doctoral work in Human Sciences at Saybrook University in San Francisco, California. 

The program consists of a residential component and my adventure begins with a two-day Residential Orientation wherein I will meet my professors, academic advisors, and other newly admitted Saybrook students. This orientation will be followed by a five-day Residential Conference. During the conference, I will participate in classes and workshops discussing topics from feminism to transdisciplinarity to the teaching of the American civil rights movements in Turkey. I don’t know what transdisciplinarity means either, but I’ve got two required texts to read on the subject before the conference begins. 

This adventure has been made possible by the love, support, and ceaseless cheerleading of my Mother, and my wizard, Judy. Thank you both.

Response to a Request for a Picture

Lorraine Jacobs very nicely commented on my Fountain Pen Day post requesting a picture of the Lamy  Safari Al-Star mentioned.

Here it is!

Happy Fountain Pen Day!

Yes, I'm late. Fountain Pen Day was November 1st, and it's now November 2nd, but I want to take a moment to wish all a very happy Fountain Pen Day! Ink responsibly.

Speaking of Fountain Pen Day - a friend, @KindredWolf, recently gifted me a Lamy Safari Al-Star Aluminum fountain pen in purple. What a wonderful gift! Well, I do have several Lamy Safari model pens. The reason for this particular gift was so awesome was because it got me back into using my beloved fountain pens on a daily basis. I had forgotten the simple and pure joy of using such an instrument.

So, thanks @KindredWolf!

The Flight Across the Pond

There is nothing, dear readers, quite like the smell of feet while having to be strapped in to a flying petrie dish. We are barreling east over Canada near Hudson Bay. There are six more hours of this little slice of hell. Dennis is actually asleep! Lucky bugger. I am trying very hard not to freak out and demand a duty free haz-mat suit...the man two seats over, smelly feet woman's dear 'usband, has sneezed at least twenty times since we all crammed ourselves in this tin can, and has only managed to cover his mouth once. I may be digging out the Xanax after all. Once this bucket o' bolts touches ground again, I have no doubt I will be fine. Until then, Xanax sandwiches all around! I'm buyin'! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Burned Bridges

Today I took a shot at mending a part of my life that I obliterated in an act of extreme indulgence and selfishness. I would be a dirty liar if I didn't admit that I have a small hope for a reply to my message. I would be naive to expect one. I feel naive to harbor my small hope. I spent a large portion of my life running from my problems. I made the choice to drink rather than to find a healthy way to deal with my emotions. Sure, every kid newly on their own does things they wouldn't do in front of their Mothers...I was no exception. It took me a very long time to learn to be okay with who I am and what I truly believe at my core. That journey has led me to face the flaws within my person with an aim to resolve them, or failing that, to learn to cope with them and navigate my life in a healthier fashion. Sure, I don't always get it right. I don't always make the right or even a good decision, but I stand by any decision I make. I admit that I have erred and work to learn from it. The shot I took today feels like a good decision. Mending burned bridges may be impossible, I can't say right now. Either way, I want whatever ashes remain to spell out that my behavior was shameful. That I put an accelerant to the already fragile tinder is a regret most acutely felt. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

What We Have Here Is A Complete Lack Of Respect

I do try not to get into discussions of a political nature with people around me. Nothing good comes of it...especially between friends.

Today at work though, some colleagues and I were discussing the recent use of slurs to refer to the President by Republican representatives in Congress. It struck me that unlike any previous President, Mr. Obama faces a complete and total lack of respect for the office of the President, just by virtue of the fact that he, an American black man, inhabits it. Why is blatant racism on the part of our country's leaders being tolerated? Why is President Obama not standing up and saying, "I am the President of the United States, and you will treat me with the respect this office deserves"?

I find that this idea of a complete lack of respect really speaks, in my mind, to the all out sand box war we are seeing within Congress. Republicans aren't fighting Democrats - they're fighting something they're not quite comfortable with. See, no one questioned that President Clinton was born in Hope, Arkansas. No one questioned that President George W. Bush was born in New Haven, Connecticut. In fact, to my knowledge, no one has questioned the location of birth of any previous President of the United States. Our Founding Fathers were born as British subjects prior to the formation of the United States. What makes their births any more legitimate than that of President Obama? The only difference I see is that Mr. Obama is black.

I find it appalling that Americans are so quick to jump to such disrespect as is being afforded the President. I find it amazing and frustrating that people that are otherwise decent individuals actually believe...I mean, they ACTUALLY BELIEVE that Mr. Obama's birth certificate is a fraud and that there are factions of terrorists within the state of Hawaii that assisted his parents in a massive conspiracy to cover up the true circumstances of his birth. Come on...let's think about this for a minute like the Mythbusters...so, if Mr. and Mrs. Parents of Obama knew that their bouncing baby boy was going to become the President of the United States in 2009 when they had him in 1961...are you with me so far?  Right.  So, the parents knew that their son would be elected the President of the United States in 2009...yeah, I can't get passed that - how would they have known? How could they have known? Therefore, how could they have concocted such a massive and far reaching conspiracy to hide the true circumstances of his birth?

Yep, I'm stumped too.

What I'm trying to say here is that President Obama was elected to his office...just like most every President before him. The majority of the Electoral College thought he deserved the office. Mr. Obama deserves the respect of the office of the Presidency of the United States. You may not agree with his politics. I may not agree with his politics. But he is the President of the United States...and that is to be respected.

Happy Birthday Mr. President.