Challenger

Yesterday was the 20th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion. One of the astronauts who died that day was Ron McNair, who grew up (if not born in) in Lake City, SC, where I went to elementary school. The main highway that runs through Lake City was renamed Ron McNair Highway a few years back, and the city dedicated a monument to him some time when I was in middle school or high school. Anyway, he was the hometown hero who succeeded and went on to a better place after Lake City. I think he went to Lake City High School, where most teenagers go in Lake City, as it is the only public high school in town. That's why Challenger story. Everybody has one.

circles

I've realized recently that I've been closing a lot of circles.

Four years ago, I applied to housing with Parkside as my first choice. I am now living in Parkside.

Two years ago, in print reporting, I interviewed Joe Dominik at a bookstore on Vermont called Skylight Bookstore, where Joe read aloud from his book on California's three-strike law. This semester, my last, I am taking Joe Dominik's Community Journalism class. Yesterday, after Wednesday night production (continuing the Wednesday night after-production dinner tradition), we went to Fred 62 in Los Feliz. We passed a bookstore, and Jeremy mentioned that it's a pretty cool bookstore. As we crossed the street from Fred 62 n the way back, I realized that the dinky little movie theater beside the bookstore looked really familiar. HEY! I KNOW that bookstore! Can you believe that all this time I didn't know where Fred 62 was, but I definitely walked past it at least twice that day I interviewed Joe for my story. All this time!

***

I said I will write down, from the perspective my returning to the U.S., what I miss about London. Because I still do. I miss London every day. I bought a London map from the bookstore a couple of days ago. It is now on my wall.

I miss London because I can walk everywhere. This is especially important because I don't have a car at school this semester.
I miss London because it has culture.
I miss London because it has museums of all persuasions. I love museums.
I miss London because the people are so polite.
I miss London because it has so much history.
I miss London because I had a great time there.
I miss London because it has taught me so much about myself.

100.

Blogger informed me that I have 100 entries in this blog. The one you're reading right now is No. 101. The One with the 100th Blog Entry.

Please forgive me if I have been neglecting my blogging duties. This, I am afraid, is going to be a hectic week. I am currently reading (ahem ... skimming) both of John Locke's treatises of government and its introduction. The prof was sneaky and gave us a list of questions to answer. So we have to have some sort of idea of the content. Bleh. The sad thing is, I totally will be THAT teacher who is a pain in the ass and gives pop quizzes and question sheets and homework.

Today in sculpture class, I dismantled the bike. On Thursday, I will destroy it and then paint it entirely white. Then I will be on a search for plywood, Which ought to be REALLY fun, given my lack of car. I wonder if Home Depot will deliver a sheet of plywood.

Also on Thursday, I will give a speech in public speaking class about something that is important to me, that I am passionate about. I am thinking about using my grad school essays as a guide.

It is 12:35 a.m., so I will stop writing to read John Locke and hopefully have time to grab some sleep and take a shower in the morning. Yay for showers!

so many movies

I recommend, if you are able to, to go see "After Innocence." It is the story of seven men who were falsely imprisoned, some to life sentences, some to death sentences, all spent years behind bars. The documentary tells their stories after their release, long after the journalists left. Their struggle to readjust to society, however, remain.

See "Brokeback Mountain." It is a beautiful, touching story about two gay cowboys in Wyoming and their love that lasts a lifetime and endures marriages, children and tragedy.

I wanted to read the book first, as I try to do for movies that are adapted from books, but after watching "Memoirs of a Geisha," I only wanted to read the novel more. Whether you will agree with the culture of geishas, it is a touching story, and I am certain that the book won't disappoint.

***

Today, I went to Goodwill and bought a few pieces of old furniture for my sculpture class. Whatever I don't destroy in my quest to portray innocence, I will use in my very empty apartment. I also bought supplies for the class with Amy. I have a yellow toolbox! And a hammer! And pliers!

***

So this is definitely not my most eloquent entry ever (not that others were especially brilliant). Anyway, I am watching the Golden Globes whilst reading about the Constitution and the First Amendment.

an artist, I am

I am on a search for an old or disgarded tricycle or bicycle so I can make my magnificient, first-ever sculpture for my sculpture class. That is the goal. The assignment is to really find pieces of disgarded or old anything with which to make a sculpture. Furniture, transportation, lamps, ping-pong balls, whatever strikes my fancy. My second choice would be mass quantities of bouncy balls that you find at those gumball machines.

Meet me, the modern art sculptor.

I vow to return

Today, I went to see Brokeback Mountain with a couple of the Parkside RAs, and they showed a preview of Match Point, directed by Woody Allen, in London. I saw Westminster and the London Eye and Bond Street and all the wonderful London scenery ... and ... I miss London. I like LA a lot; in act, I like LA more than most people, but London has so much more .... history, culture, entertainment .... I miss London.

I am in the process of putting up the postcards I collected last semester, and it's making me even more nostalgic. I'm sure one day last semester will just be a fond memory and all the terrible and unsavory things that happened will be momentarily forgotten, but right now, London is looking like a mighty good place to be, despite the bitter, bitter cold I'm sure they're having right now.

**

I heard back from South Carolina admissions yesterday, and everything will be fine, I think. As soon as I can track down where they put my letters, test scores and transcripts, and as soon as I turn in my change of status form to correct the "MT/MAT" mistake.

So tired. Tomorrow is an off-day for RA training, and I will spend it by reading copy for the DT and revising the stylesheets.

Fun.

we fought like Trojans

I don't want to talk about it.

Stupid referees who can't see a knee down with ball in hand.

2006

Well, it's 2006. Whadaya know. Maybe it'll be better than 2005. It has certainly been the worst New Year's Eve in my life. Celebration, my ass.

Here are the requisite resolutions list:
** get into grad school
** failing at that, get a job
** hopefully somewhere not in South Carolina
** don't worry, be happy
** meet my mother's weight requirement (don't ask. it's a long story you don't want to know and I don't feel like telling)
** be nicer to people I don't like
** pretend I care
** stop the procrastination