Spring Semester

Well, a lesson to all ye students out there. Read your catalog carefully. I signed up for Precalculas Algebra, thinking that somewhere I had read that I needed it as a pre-requisite for another class. I started the class and felt completely overwhelmed. I really, really don't like graphing. I tried to drop with a refund, but was a day late and denied an extension. I figured I was screwed. Well, today, while freaking out about my first Precal test that was supposed to be tonight, I looked at my materials. I found out - 1) I don't actually need precal, just a math credit, 2) I could withdrawal and it would not effect my GPA. Now, I would still end up paying for the class, but I wouldn't have to sit through 16 weeks of class I didn't need. So, I withdrew and signed up for statistics. I have to take another statistics class when I get to the University level, so I figured it would be a good basis for that class. So! No freaking out about a scary math class! Hooray.

Speaking of college, one of my favorite bloggers, the South African Tertia, has called upon the masses to help friends of hers, Masande and Nontobeko, follow their educational dreams. I donated some money, in honor of my grandfather, who put himself through college while working full time and raising three kids. Sure, my grandma did a lot of the heavy lifting, but he made the grades and became a chemical engineer, which happens to be what Masande wants to be. If you've got a little extra cash, consider donating. Sometimes a little makes a big difference. (I couldn't believe that Masande's college registration fee was $450. Mine was $15. Now mine is for community college, but still! That's crazy. And he has to pay that fee before he can apply for financial aid.)

My grandparents come from generations and generations of really thrifty people, and somehow I've managed to screw that up with my generation. (Actually, it may be my mom who screwed it up first.) Anyway, I love their stories of ingenuity in the face of poverty. One of my favorites: At some point when my grandfather was in school and my grandma was at home with the kids, it became really popular to have either fancy wallpaper put in your house with a beautiful tropical vista, or if you were really wealthy, have someone come in and paint a mural of such a scene. My grandmother wanted one in her living room, but couldn't afford either option. She found a small paint-by-numbers scene that she liked, and my grandfather borrowed a projector from a friend. With pencils, they traced the picture onto the wall together, basically creating a huge paint-by-numbers. They found some paints that matched the colors they wanted, and then, when the kids were down for a nap, she would paint small sections of it. My grandmother is actually quite artistic (I think she could have probably painted a mural without the whole paint-by-numbers thing, if she'd had a little more confidence in herself. But poverty doesn't necessarily afford confidence, you don't want to waste paint, afterall) and in no time, she had her dream mural. And it apparently became the talk of the neighborhood. I love the idea of that - that art and beauty are worth splurging on, even if you have to fake it. I think that's a little something that many modern Americans are missing from their lives.

Booky Talk - "Birth"

Dick and I own hundreds of books. Dick tends to read non-fiction, including philosophy books, for fun. (Philosophy does not equal fun for me.) I like a good mix and try to alternate when reading, between the two. I started this year off with Tina Cassidy's Birth: The Surprising History of How We Are Born. A little known fact about me is that I have, on many occasions, secretly courted the idea of becoming a midwife. I believe that women's health issues go hand in hand with sexual equality, and are incredibly important. Because of my interest in this type of feminism and my own health issues, I have read tons about women's health, from infertility to abortion, to nutrition, menopause and breastfeeding. So, I was really, really excited about this book. I actually read the entire thing in one night. Here are my thoughts:

I wish the author would have included more about the political causes and effects of some of the changes birthing procedures. She detailed how in the late 1800s/early 1900s, men essentially began pushing their way into the "birthing room," which had traditionally been safely overseen by women and midwives. And that it is really within the last ninety years or so that hospital births have become standard. (If you think about how long we've been having babies, that is a really short time.) This time period also corresponds with the strengthening of the anti-abortion movement among states. This makes me believe that there may some additional social reasons beyond physicians seeing obstetrics as a financial opportunity. Perhaps that is a whole other book, though!

She did focus heavily on detailed procedure descriptions, which, were... gross. And some birthing horror stories. (One, in particular, involving a disgusting overcrowded hospital and a baby essentially eaten by rats, was really horrifying.) And while the shock factor was there, I was often left wondering about the hearts of these poor women who endured these things, and often I felt the author did not share my personal interest in them, but saw them mostly as scientific evidence.

Maybe I am just a big softy though. Despite being slightly less than I expected, the book was fascinating and horrifying. It made me thankful and somewhat suspicious of modern medicine. I wouldn't suggest that anyone read it while pregnant, or within a year of even considering pregnancy. Seriously. Unless you have big birthing hips.

Happy, eh, New Year

Yeah, so I am a little behind the times here. But I am a busy woman, what do you expect? This semester I have decided to only take two classes: Precalculas algebra and American Government. Taking two classes instead of three is going to throw off my graduation schedule, but I don't think I can do it again right now. Maybe in the summer.

I know its late, but I wanted to do this end o' the year meme from one of my favorite bloggers. Cause I wanted to be all retrospective and shit. And, also, I thought it would be good to look at it next year to see how I've grown and shit.

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?
Took three classes while working full time

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

No, I didn't. And I don't know about 2008 yet. My birthday is Feb. 9, which I normally choose to make my resolutions. It happens to be close to the Chinese New Year, which is helpful.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Umm.... I don't think so. No one close to me.
4. Did anyone close to you die?

Yes, my grandma. And Dick's dad. Who I wasn't close to, but knocked me for a loop anyway.
5. What countries did you visit?

I limited my travels to the United States of America. Unless you count Alabama as another country.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Financial security. A clean house.

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Feb. 10 - Had my most awesomest birthday party yet - Pins and PJs. I realized what great, funny friends I have. The best present ever!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Three As in three classes in one semester. 

9. What was your biggest failure?

Gaining all the weight back (and more) that I lost in the H magazine challenge.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Well, I always am - I have multiple chronic conditions that suck. So yeah.
11. What was the best thing you bought?

I really love my new laptop, even though it is not a coveted Apple. One day, my pretty, you shall be mine. And all the drugs that keep me sane.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Dick.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Oh Britney. Wait, I don't know her. Hmmm... someone I know? The Wall (management in my office).

14. Where did most of your money go?

Eating out, beer and sandwiches at E-street, cigarettes and coffee for Dick. Ice cream. Oh! And tuition and books. Car payments. God, it sucks being an adult.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Baking. And ice cream. And my awesome friends.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?

I am not musically inclined, people! I listen to what people tell me to. I don't know! Stop pressuring me!
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
 a) happier or sadder? 
b) thinner or fatter? 
c) richer or poorer?
Happier, fatter and slightly (oh so slightly) richer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Exercised, gone out on more dates with Dick, seen more movies, seen my grandma one last time. Traveled more.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Eating. Especially the Great Ice Cream Debacle of Summer 2007. (I think I ate ice cream every day for like three months or something. It was so refreshing! And now I am really fat!) Sitting on my ass.
20. How did you spend Christmas?

Went to Epcot the weekend before, spent Christmas Eve with friends and my sister, Christmas Day at work, and with Mom and family in evening.
21. Did you fall in love in 2007?

Yes, over and over again. Most of the time with Dick.
22. What was your favorite TV program?

I liked Grey's Anatomy, even though it pissed me off quite frequently.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

I think all my current nemesises are oldies but goodies.
24. What was the best book you read?

I read a lot of books, mostly non-fiction. But, in the fiction realm, I read Welcome to Eudora, which was a lovely book that I didn't want to end. I love good storytelling.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Again with the music! I don't know! Whatever was on the radio!

26. What did you want and get?

I got a Cuisinart food processor that I've wanted since the beginning of time, or "1992," as I call it. And a more-attentive husband.
27. What did you want and not get?

A house, a puppy and a raise.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?

I liked "Knocked Up," but it was really the only movie I saw this year. Oh, and the James Bond movie... was that this year? Eh.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

Bowled in my pajamas with 24 of my closest friends - I turned 27.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
To have kept the weight off, and lost more. 

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?

Sometime mid-year, I decided that I was no longer dressing business casual for work, since they weren't giving me (or anyone else) a raise, so I started wearing jeans everyday. So, jeans and t-shirts with ballet flats or converses would be my personal work style. And pajamas for everything else.
32. What kept you sane?
E-Street Fridays. Wearing my pajamas. Baking. Snuggling with Louie and/or Dick. 

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Daniel Craig. Yum. Oh, did you mean in an admirable kind of way? Hmm... Can't think of any. Kind of sad when you think about it.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Abortion rights.

35. Who did you miss?

My grandpa.
36. Who was the best new person you met?

Stef! Junebug! Anna! (And Erin! even though she was technically introduced to 2006.)
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.

E-Street two-for-one Happy Hour is 4-7 p.m. daily. I don't know if this is a life lesson, but I am incredibly lucky to have the friends and husband that I do.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I don't know the words to any songs! Unless they are Sublime songs from like 15 years ago. Do they count? "Are you a bad fish too?"

So, I think I will have more time for writing this semester, with my lighter work load. I hope to write a little something about every book I read because I realized that I don't really keep track of that, and I'd like to do that for my own sick purposes. (Yeah, you may be smart, but I read like 14.5 books last year, mister!) I hope to start that this week, with the books I read over the New Year holiday.