With A Much Lighter Feel

I made two metaphorical statements yesterday that just blew my own mind. They're not that profound, but my roommates are sick of hearing me recite them triumphantly, so I'm sharing them here instead:

First, I realized that I relate to my life and the entire universe through three vehicles--music, words, and food. It's true. It sounds weird, but I cannot think of a single thing on the face of this planet that I cannot bring back to one of these three. What are your vehicles to understanding? Think about it.

Second, with the above concept in mind, I realized that Jesus is obviously my living water, which would make the Bible my bread of life. But then, oh and those who know me will understand the importance of this last statement, Annie Dillard would have to be my chocolate. I don't need her to survive, but I'm an addict, and she brightens my days like nothing else can. Her book, For The Time Being, touched me in a way that no person or thing ever could.

Why I'm Disappointed in Education Right Now

1) I had to explain to the professor of my "capstone" literature course how the public school system handles teaching literature. She didn't know the national standards or those of the state of California in which she teaches. Her son is in 8th grade for Pete's sake!

2) In the aforementioned conversation, I was again reminded as to why I plan to teach--there is something severely wrong with the current standings of our children's reading comprehension levels, writing/syntactical skills, and ability to elaborate on thoughts verbally or on paper. Look at the SAT!

3) It is clear that we have gotten too lax in our whole grading system when there are multiple valedictorians with perfect GPAs in tons of graduating classes all over the country. Even on a tougher scale where + and - grades affect the overall score. Twenty years ago the honor of cum laude was given to people with GPAs two decimal places lower, on average, than they have today.

4) I am about to graduate from an institution that expects me to read and identify passages from classic pieces of literature which they have never forced me to read, study, or even place on a socio-cultural timeline in the history of writing.

5) Not once in the last four years has anyone actually made an attempt to see if I was interested in graduate school, nor has anyone attempted to get me interested in graduate school--an action which might improve the university's statistical standings in certain areas.

6) With three weeks of classes left including finals, I have nothing left to do except 2 1/2 major papers and three exams. They have made it possible for me to stop attending classes, taking notes, studying, and paying attention altogether three weeks before they think about sending me my diploma in the mail.

7) That's right. My diploma is coming in the mail a month after the ceremony because I am one of the few and the proud that will be completely finished with her coursework within the four years allotted to me without the help of summer school, additional time at my institution, or an overdone full load at any point in time.

8) It is possible to do the afforementioned feat, but few succeed because PLNU's view of education does not allow much pad room for those who do not know exactly what they want to do from the very beginning.

Rant finished, I promise. I love this institution, and I have learned a ton from the experience. I am just frustrated with the way they have chosen to handle these particular issues in my final days here. Did I mention that disorganization, lack of communication, and stupid errors drive me up a 30 foot wall?!

Back Home

I get to go home today.

After a long, arduous journey to the Spring Valley DMV yesterday afternoon, I am half-way to passing the Class B permit test for buses and other over-sized gas-guzzling vehicles where I can sit down and tower 15 feet over the drivers around me. Yes! Seriously, I'm excited. You have to take the Class C, normal passenger vehicle, test again before taking the Class B, and I got a perfect score on that, so, yes, I do still belong on the road. Now, I am also authorized to drive automobiles with air-brakes. That doesn't actually mean anything since I haven't passed the general large vehicle exam yet, but if anyone wants to install air brakes in my little gold Honda, Mercy would love the power, and I am authorized to operate such a contraption.

This weekend will include writing a research paper, going shopping for graduation and the like with my mom, picking up my brother at LAX before church on Easter Sunday, and completing my Class B permit on Monday. Here's the fun part, none of these things, except maybe the Easter stuff, actually needs to be done for another month. I feel so on top of it! The paper is due in four weeks, but we already had to turn in a mini-paper with all of our research in it, so I might as well write the big-un while it's fresh on my mind. Graduation isn't until mid-May, but everyone's talking about it like it's right around the corner--then again, maybe it is. The driver's license thing probably shouldn't wait, but I still feel whoa-responsible for getting myself on it.

I guess that's the end of my random goodness for now. I'm off to pack for home!

British Rulers

Yep, that would be the comic of the day. And it's true. Especially now that Charlie married the woman that came from a family line historically known for producing monarchs' mistresses. There's twisted in-breeding for you.

Baby Steps to Easter

Seeing that the Lenten season is one of anticipation for rebirth, I thought I might share some major stepping stones I traversed today alone.

1) My roommates took a quiz that claims my personality evokes the "funk" of pistachio ice cream.

2) I officially, although unintentionally, convinced my roommates that all I ate this entire weekend was ice cream from the freezer. Though I do not support this statement, I will say that Moose Tracks is one of God's special blessings just for people like me.

3) A friend I haven't seen or heard from in a very long time got in touch with me, and we may get to actually see each other in the next 12 months!

4) I was reminded once again at what an amazing group of individuals I have the pleasure of serving alongside this entire summer. CO '06, I can't wait!

5) Yet another friend of my parents inquired as to how the post-graduation plans are coming, and I kept a straight face for the entire conversation. When you hear the same questions as much as I do, every once in a while you get emotional, but more often you just want to laugh. What are the odds that this many people could ask you the same question with the exact same context?

6) I had the chance to sit down and chat with a coworker I haven't seen in a long time.

7) I remembered to pick up the Padres ticket I promised to Donna before Julie ran out.

8) Mike and I got to hang for a couple minutes, and I think the hug comfort level we gave off was high enough to actually start some rumors in my office. Woohoo, more fires to put out tomorrow!

9) My boss successfully ridiculed me for being a prude without being completely uncomfortable. Like everyone else in my life, I think he's finally reached a comfort level with me (it's only been almost 4 years) where he can tease me about the stupid comments I make that never come out the way I mean them to without turning red in the face or stopping mid-sentence. It's about time! I'm only going to be around 4 more weeks!

10) I just spent yet another day working at the laptop in my room surrounded by unreturned library books, clean used-to-be-folded laundry, and lecture notes without putting a single thing back in its rightful place.

We're gaining ground for the greater good, people. This is for the greater good!

Nazarenedom

My roommates and I compiles this list:

Your church version of Awana was “Caravans”
Hip movement is considered lewd behavior
You get more excited about a church potluck than Christmas dinner
Green foo-foo salad is a must at such occasions
Bible Quizzing is bigger than an Olympic sport
You can name the names of people from other churches in your “district”
Your alma mater ends in the acronym NU
You have seen portraits of both Wesley and Bresee
You can give a brief history of the afforementioned figures
You can go to church in another state and still find a cousin fourth removed
Seven steps to Kevin Bacon doesn’t hold a candle to Four Steps to the Closest Nazbo
You feel more comfortable on your knees at the alter than in your seat
NYC does not stand for New York City
Holiness Today
Rook & Dominoes anytime, anywhere

Educational Babysitting

I have never seen Dr. Bettina Pedersen as attentive to a single group in class as she was today. We were sectioned off into five groups in class today to discuss Thomas Hardy's rather pessimistic poem about the struggles of life, "Hap." Our group, self-titled the "Team of #1's" by our ever-so-brilliant scribe, Josh, moved beyond prosody to themes when we decided that the speaker must have been a postal worker if he hated his life that much. From there we had a, rather intelligent if I may say so, conversation about the linguistic origins of the qualifier--postal--as in someone going "postal" and decided that some postal worker must have gone crazy or something.

Anyway. We were having too much of a literary blast during discussion time. Bettina kept moving across the room and then returning to position herself right next to our group as if to remind us to keep it down. Can we help it if educational experience is also entertaining. For more details, see Jordan Frye who was singled out more than once, at which point we all could do nothing but laugh. He made me laugh so hard once that I cried and couldn't stop for a couple minutes!

G.W. Quote of the Week

...no, the month, maybe the year.

President George W. Bush was in Cancun this week with the presidents of Mexico and Canada discussing several things--mainly new immigration laws and policies. Because we all know he's not great at impromptu, I can laugh heartily at this quote:

"...there's a legislative process.... some guy, some where, one time put it, it's like watching people make sausage. It's kind of a -- you know, probably appears a little unpleasant from your perspective."

Let me clarify that he was giving a respose in regards to legislation on illegal aliens. I'm pretty sure, if we really dig, he was utilizing visual and olfactory imagery to create some sense of unity through linked segments...maybe? Perhaps this attempt and W.K. Wimsatt Jr.'s "concrete universal" was taken a bit too far?