On a Friday Night...

Was what I was going to title my blog yesterday, after I returned from the ACTC Women's Studies Conference, and then set about doing all my homework.

Which I didn't. I found Cameron in a tree in the park, and then watched How I Met Your Mother until I fell asleep... after a particular roommate hurt my feelings in relation to my sex life. "Why are you a dick?" I asked. "That's just who I am." I seriously wonder how they can find fulfillment if their, "Who they are" consistently puts people down.

Then I realized, that by calling them, "a dick" I am feeding into the gendered oppression that I hate. How is it that I can feel ok calling someone a dick, while getting mad about words like bitch, or cunt? I look forward to leaving the safe bubble of college, and seeing what color my world will take.

So I went to bed feeling bad about myself.
And woke up feeling bad about myself.
Nathan and I were going to go on an adventure today, but because it was cloudy and cold, and I had my mom mad at me about sending grandma some sheet music, and I hadn't done any work the night before... I was not in a comfortable head space. Nathan, being the gloriously understanding human he is, told me to take care of myself, and then brought me a sandwich.

Unfortunately, I did not conquer the world after eating that sandwich... instead, I fell asleep for four hours... which I want to justify as, "Well, I must have needed it..." but... argh.

Anyway. The Women's Studies conference yesterday was amazing. I presented my Occupy Wall Street research, and met some really cool people.

My other goal this week was to get into the student juried art show... but I didn't see my painting left in the gallery... soooo... maybe entering is enough to check that off my list.

Ok. Now I am going to try to write about philosophy.

Kathleen Watson

This is a tale of love, and of scorn, that began many years ago.

Many said years ago, I became acquainted with an intriguing honors classmate, Kathleen. Kathleen was in theater; she was extroverted and had the coolest friends. I became her friend, and we'd sit in Crockett's class talking shit about our fellows.

One of them talked too much, so we'd time her.
Kathy was intense, so we mocked her.
Andrew was hot, so we made eyes at him.

As our friendship grew, we did everything together. No clothes basket mountain, or car ride through Seward went unconquered. It served to reason that two fine girls as ourselves would make a fantastic home together.

And we did.

"Isn't it great that we're not dating, so we can never break up?"

And then we broke up. A whole summer of silent resentment, lead to a fall of discontent. Finally, that winter, I fled into the welcoming arms of Erica Malloy and my life took a whole new turn.

Kathleen and I weren't bitter... the relationship just had to end, wounds healed, but I never expected to really get back to the way things were.

And now, years later, we sit together on a porch, singing along to the mix tapes we made each other. We've both changed a lot. I know that I have grown more secure in myself to be comfortable being on my own, which are traits that if lacking, a shy kid fresh from the woods could easily find herself caught up in someone else's world. Kathleen also, I feel has come more strongly into herself, ready to approach life with confidence.

So this is a story of hope and assurance. Time can really change things. Especially time spent in such formative years.

Here's to a friendship renewed!

She thought of them as a 4-H Project

Proclaims a magnate that my Mom's best friend gave her.

It features a picture of a woman looking clever, with two men on horses in the background.

Lately I've been wondering if I consider my boys to be Primary Sources from the early 21st Century.

Is it ok if I too, am a primary source?

Small Town Minneapolis

My current Facebook status expresses, "Because college teaches you more than academics."

I post that in answer to my own question of, "Why shouldn't I feel bad about exercising my social energies, going out, networking and meeting people that could some day help provide remarkable opportunities."

Minneapolis is a small town.
I've seen it happen to Visser, when bit by bit the edges of your network expand to envelop more and more circles, until finally, you know everyone.

For example on Wednesday I met a girl named Cate. "Augsburg? Do you know Magdalen?"

"Of course! She's going to let my snake eat her mouse!"

Then, it's always mind blowing when you go on facebook to add your new friends, only to discover you already have 5 friends in common. One guy also on Wednesday got dropped off at Seven Corners. Cameron knows people at Seven Corners, so I said I know people there, and then, upon friend request, I find that Cameron already knows this guy because he's roommates with his friends. AND he knows Kathy, because he met her at a show once.

Thursday, after going to Tracy's with my Philosophy class, I met a successful man at the Acadia. We talked about economics, identity and the world. He gave us a ride in his convertible, and before he left, he said he could hook me up with a job at Sawatdee. That is a good connection to have, especially as I start trying to figure out how to live this summer.

My social energies are running on fumes. I wasn't going to be extroverted yesterday... but...

NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM.

One can't simply hide quietly in her bed while a million socially minded college kids from the Mid-West have gathered in the living room. Ah.

It was good.

I talked to Jacqui yesterday. I said I wasn't worried about my research paper, she laughed at me. ... So today, after I Skype with Colin, I'm going to hit the books with vengeance. ... because College is about academics too.