Monday, October 25, 2004
Tumble taken
I fell down at the gas station today. It hurt. And I have a big bump on my knee now. My ego is slightly bruised as well. But it's ok... if anyone saw me, they neither laughed nor offered to help me up. So the embarrassment was kept to a minimum.
I fell down at the gas station today. It hurt. And I have a big bump on my knee now. My ego is slightly bruised as well. But it's ok... if anyone saw me, they neither laughed nor offered to help me up. So the embarrassment was kept to a minimum.
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Points of the week:
*I've been considering, reconsidering, and pondering what it is that I want to be doing with myself for the rest of this year and the next. Conversations and suggestions around this topic are very welcome.
*Chariots of Fire is a decent movie. But I wish the slow-motion-running scene with theme song in the background was longer. That's all I really watched it for.
*Constantly-playing music of the week has been the soundtrack from Garden State. It's so mellow and I love it.
*I think I've watched more baseball in the past few weeks than in my whole life to this point. Yay for the Red Sox! Still, part of me can't help but wonder if they're just prolonging the inevitable (i.e. losing). Go Cards!
*Tonight I go to Nashville. I've never been before... but I'm more excited about spending time with friends and potential friends than about seeing Nashville.
*I baked pumpkin chocolate chip bread this week. It made our apartment smell lovely, but I gave the bread away so I may have to do another loaf next week.
*Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's plans are swirling in my head. I have yet to make them swirl into reality.
*Halloween is near. Hopie and I are contemplating matching Halloween sweaters with turtlenecks to be soccer moms. We might borrow a minivan too. Stay tuned for news of a party, complete with Halloween punch that packs a punch.
*I've been considering, reconsidering, and pondering what it is that I want to be doing with myself for the rest of this year and the next. Conversations and suggestions around this topic are very welcome.
*Chariots of Fire is a decent movie. But I wish the slow-motion-running scene with theme song in the background was longer. That's all I really watched it for.
*Constantly-playing music of the week has been the soundtrack from Garden State. It's so mellow and I love it.
*I think I've watched more baseball in the past few weeks than in my whole life to this point. Yay for the Red Sox! Still, part of me can't help but wonder if they're just prolonging the inevitable (i.e. losing). Go Cards!
*Tonight I go to Nashville. I've never been before... but I'm more excited about spending time with friends and potential friends than about seeing Nashville.
*I baked pumpkin chocolate chip bread this week. It made our apartment smell lovely, but I gave the bread away so I may have to do another loaf next week.
*Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's plans are swirling in my head. I have yet to make them swirl into reality.
*Halloween is near. Hopie and I are contemplating matching Halloween sweaters with turtlenecks to be soccer moms. We might borrow a minivan too. Stay tuned for news of a party, complete with Halloween punch that packs a punch.
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
From The Arizona Republic:
Last year, 300,000 visitors spent the winter in Arizona, dropping about $1 billion into the economy, according to Arizona State University's Center for Business Research, even though 2003-04 marked the sixth consecutive season of overall decline in winter visitors to the state.
Many experts in the industry anticipate more business this year because of the hurricanes that ravaged Florida, while some winter visitors may be coming later than usual because of the presidential election.
The biggest impact on this year's numbers may be exerted by Florida's hurricanes, said Dan Austin, president of the Arizona Winter Visitors Association. "I've probably had at least a couple of dozen calls within the last couple of weeks from people who have gone to Florida in the past and are no longer going back," he said.
The Sun City West Visitors Center is getting numerous calls and e-mail from Florida residents, center coordinator Mary Jo O'Mara said. She said there is also an unusual amount of interest from Ohio, but she didn't know why. There is also an increase in winter visitors from the Northwest, she said. "Our streets are getting very crowded already," O'Mara said.
I appreciate the $1 billion boost to my state's economy every winter, but I must say I don't miss the "snowbirds" who make driving at a reasonable speed impossible. Those streets are no doubt very crowded with Buick LeSabres, Lincoln Towncars, and the like. I'm not sure where they're all going, either. Restaurants and golf courses?
Last year, 300,000 visitors spent the winter in Arizona, dropping about $1 billion into the economy, according to Arizona State University's Center for Business Research, even though 2003-04 marked the sixth consecutive season of overall decline in winter visitors to the state.
Many experts in the industry anticipate more business this year because of the hurricanes that ravaged Florida, while some winter visitors may be coming later than usual because of the presidential election.
The biggest impact on this year's numbers may be exerted by Florida's hurricanes, said Dan Austin, president of the Arizona Winter Visitors Association. "I've probably had at least a couple of dozen calls within the last couple of weeks from people who have gone to Florida in the past and are no longer going back," he said.
The Sun City West Visitors Center is getting numerous calls and e-mail from Florida residents, center coordinator Mary Jo O'Mara said. She said there is also an unusual amount of interest from Ohio, but she didn't know why. There is also an increase in winter visitors from the Northwest, she said. "Our streets are getting very crowded already," O'Mara said.
I appreciate the $1 billion boost to my state's economy every winter, but I must say I don't miss the "snowbirds" who make driving at a reasonable speed impossible. Those streets are no doubt very crowded with Buick LeSabres, Lincoln Towncars, and the like. I'm not sure where they're all going, either. Restaurants and golf courses?
Monday, October 18, 2004
I actually saw someone buy Ann Coulter's new book today at Borders. In hardback. I choose to say nothing more about this.
Friday, October 15, 2004
Moments from my day:
1. I want to go to DisneyWorld.
2. A size 13 shoe for guys is kinda big.
3. Reading the bible is kinda hard.
4. The Arizona state flag in sticker form is way cool.
5. Being in Holmes Lounge when no longer a student makes me feel old.
Off to the lake!
1. I want to go to DisneyWorld.
2. A size 13 shoe for guys is kinda big.
3. Reading the bible is kinda hard.
4. The Arizona state flag in sticker form is way cool.
5. Being in Holmes Lounge when no longer a student makes me feel old.
Off to the lake!
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Happy birthday, Mom.
Also born on this date:
1925 Margaret Thatcher
1942 Paul Simon
1947 Sammy Hagar
1959 Marie Osmond
1962 Kelly Preston
1965 Rob Schneider
1993 Tiffany Trump (daughter of The Donald and Marla Maples)
And on this date in history:
1997 Andy Green's Jet-powered car reaches record 749.69 MPH
1993 Mighty Ducks win their 1st NHL game
1988 Shroud of Turin, revered by many Christians as Christ's burial cloth, is shown by carbon-dating tests to be a fake from the Middle Ages
1978 President Carter answers caller questions on National Public Radio
1969 1st time 7 people in space
1960 3rd presidential debate with Nixon in Hollywood and Kennedy in NY
1943 Italy declares war on former Axis partner Germany
1937 A recorded trace of snow in Central Park NYC
Also born on this date:
1925 Margaret Thatcher
1942 Paul Simon
1947 Sammy Hagar
1959 Marie Osmond
1962 Kelly Preston
1965 Rob Schneider
1993 Tiffany Trump (daughter of The Donald and Marla Maples)
And on this date in history:
1997 Andy Green's Jet-powered car reaches record 749.69 MPH
1993 Mighty Ducks win their 1st NHL game
1988 Shroud of Turin, revered by many Christians as Christ's burial cloth, is shown by carbon-dating tests to be a fake from the Middle Ages
1978 President Carter answers caller questions on National Public Radio
1969 1st time 7 people in space
1960 3rd presidential debate with Nixon in Hollywood and Kennedy in NY
1943 Italy declares war on former Axis partner Germany
1937 A recorded trace of snow in Central Park NYC
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
I would like to pass along the following amusing story from Eve, current grad student and former roommate (thanks, Eve! I hope you don't mind):
While doing the readings for the research ethics week in one of my classes I learned something that I thought you'd all want to know. Apparently in the mid-1970s, Laud Humphries, a grad student in sociology at our fair Wash U, "made a scholarly name for himself by spying on sex in public rest rooms, writing down the men's license-plate numbers, and tracking them to their homes. The resulting book, Tearoom Trade, fueled an extended debate in sociology about privacy rights and deception in fieldwork." First of all, who has sex in a public restroom? Second, I'm quite disconcerted to learn that there are enough people engaging in said behavior to warrant study. Third, what kind of advisor approved such a sketchy project? Fourth, tracking them to their homes? For what purpose? "It was quite pervy really." (Bonus points to the person who figures out what movie that quote is from.) And finally, gross. Anyway, be sure to bring this up next time Wash U calls asking for alumni donations. I'm sure the student callers will be appreciative of such information. :)
Ahh... if I'd know I would learn about stuff that made me laugh, maybe I would have given some more thought to grad school. Maybe. Oh, and I believe the "pervy" quote comes from our beloved Bridget Jones' Diary, referring to childhood frolicking in paddling pools.
While doing the readings for the research ethics week in one of my classes I learned something that I thought you'd all want to know. Apparently in the mid-1970s, Laud Humphries, a grad student in sociology at our fair Wash U, "made a scholarly name for himself by spying on sex in public rest rooms, writing down the men's license-plate numbers, and tracking them to their homes. The resulting book, Tearoom Trade, fueled an extended debate in sociology about privacy rights and deception in fieldwork." First of all, who has sex in a public restroom? Second, I'm quite disconcerted to learn that there are enough people engaging in said behavior to warrant study. Third, what kind of advisor approved such a sketchy project? Fourth, tracking them to their homes? For what purpose? "It was quite pervy really." (Bonus points to the person who figures out what movie that quote is from.) And finally, gross. Anyway, be sure to bring this up next time Wash U calls asking for alumni donations. I'm sure the student callers will be appreciative of such information. :)
Ahh... if I'd know I would learn about stuff that made me laugh, maybe I would have given some more thought to grad school. Maybe. Oh, and I believe the "pervy" quote comes from our beloved Bridget Jones' Diary, referring to childhood frolicking in paddling pools.
Monday, October 11, 2004
From a Washington Post article:
The first openly gay bishop in the Anglican Church told worshipers at a downtown Washington church yesterday that there is room in the denomination for those who support his lifestyle and also for those who believe it is forbidden by Scripture. ...
Robinson said he wants room in the church to accommodate all believers, including conservatives such as Akinola. "We're going to be in heaven together, and we're going to get along, because God wouldn't have it any other way," he said of himself and the Nigerian prelate. "So, I figure, if we're going to get along in the long run, we might as well practice right now."
This is one example of what I love about the Episcopal Church... that we at least attempt to show a spirit of inclusion and open dialogue about these sorts of things. I think the world is in trouble when people completely disengage from one another in the face of disagreement.
The first openly gay bishop in the Anglican Church told worshipers at a downtown Washington church yesterday that there is room in the denomination for those who support his lifestyle and also for those who believe it is forbidden by Scripture. ...
Robinson said he wants room in the church to accommodate all believers, including conservatives such as Akinola. "We're going to be in heaven together, and we're going to get along, because God wouldn't have it any other way," he said of himself and the Nigerian prelate. "So, I figure, if we're going to get along in the long run, we might as well practice right now."
This is one example of what I love about the Episcopal Church... that we at least attempt to show a spirit of inclusion and open dialogue about these sorts of things. I think the world is in trouble when people completely disengage from one another in the face of disagreement.
Sunday, October 10, 2004
I have only one major gripe about the presidential campaigns. I have some minor gripes, but those don't seem worth mentioning here. So my major gripe is that both candidates want to assure the electorate that they can "keep America safe." But I believe they have both been careful to say that it's not a matter of if, but when, an attack on American soil will occur again. Here's my issue with their assurances... I don't believe that any one person, and perhaps not even any one group of people, can keep America safe. Keeping our country safe is something simultaneously broad and convoluted; I certainly don't trust George W. Bush or John Kerry to keep me safe. I trust God to keep me safe. And that's obviously not something you say on the campaign trail, but... alas.
Ok, on to other things. I saw Ladder 49 on Friday. It was quite intense. I don't want to give anything away, but think Backdraft with more fire effects and better acting. And no embarrassing sex scene on top of a fire engine.
Ok, on to other things. I saw Ladder 49 on Friday. It was quite intense. I don't want to give anything away, but think Backdraft with more fire effects and better acting. And no embarrassing sex scene on top of a fire engine.
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
I had bizarre dreams last night, but now I only remember part of one of them. It was very political-ish and involved being in front of a house (one that looked like it could be somewhere in Ames Place, incidentally). And John McCain either lived or worked there--so he was in it, along with an Arizona congressman... I think it was Jon Kyl (although I'm not even sure he's still an Arizona congressman). So unfortunately, that's all I remember of it, but surely there was more. I attribute it to having recent political discussions and watching two debates in the past week.
Speaking of John McCain (or dreaming of him), I find it strangely wonderful that both parties can use him as an example of why their candidate should win.
Speaking of John McCain (or dreaming of him), I find it strangely wonderful that both parties can use him as an example of why their candidate should win.
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Currently reading The Da Vinci Code. I enjoy it, yes, but I'm not quite sure what all the fuss is about. Any suggestions for what I should start next?
Does anyone else think that one of the Cardinals' radio announcers (I don't know his name) sounds a little bit like Norm MacDonald?
Does anyone else think that one of the Cardinals' radio announcers (I don't know his name) sounds a little bit like Norm MacDonald?
