Quiz time!

Just a few things I've been thinking about, so enjoy...

1.  If there is controversy over the Park 51 Cultural Center (erroneously also known as a Ground Zero Mosque, though it is neither a mosque nor at the exact 9/11 site) being built because those who attacked the United States were Muslims, does that mean that we can't build any churches in Oklahoma City because Timothy McVeigh was a Christian?

Along those lines of logic, since most of the terrorist acts that have occurred in the US are domestic ones done by Christians (since Christians make up over 70% of our country), there would be very few places it would be okay for us to build churches.

2.  How is it that the same people who were criticizing President Obama for things his pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, said, are now saying he is a Muslim?  What exactly do they think he is?

3.  How is it that many of the folks who preach about the "sanctity of marriage" have also cheated on their spouses?  Sanctity of marriage my oversized butt.

4.  How is it that there are folks who are both pro-life and pro-war?  If your preferences lean toward either, please pick one and stick to it.  And deal with the consequences yourself.

5.  Has the Catholic Church forgotten that clergy are all considered mandated reporters?  Or what that even means?  Do they need a refresher?  Or maybe a monitoring visit!  That might help them remember.

6.  Has anyone actually seen a welfare recipient drive a Cadillac?  That is, in real life?

20,000 Hearts

First we lived in India- in winter it rains there every day
We were younger then, we were children in India
There were signs and people we didn't understand,
You said, "hold my hand," and I held your hand

There is one of me, and one of you
and two of us with one hundred questions
and two thousand reasons, but ten's a perfect number
We are twenty thousand hearts full of hunger
Twenty thousand hearts

Then we're dancing in Geneva- it's New Year's Eve
and all the Americans were there
They said "it's still last year in New York City"
You said, "New York where?"
I said, "New York City- it's three thousand miles away"
You said, "what's a mile?" I said, "It's far away"

There is one of me, and one of you
and two of us with one hundred questions
and two thousand reasons, but ten's a perfect number
We are twenty thousand hearts full of hunger
Twenty thousand hearts

Now you ask me to explain myself
and I tell you I need distance
You say, "To hell with distance, remember who
you're talking to"
I say, "Closeness is too much for me,"
and dismiss you with a smile
You say, "Wish away the closeness
and imagine it's a mile"

There is one of me, and one of you
and two of us with one hundred questions
and two thousand reasons, but ten's a perfect number
We are twenty thousand hearts full of hunger
Twenty thousand hearts

--By Robbie Schaeffer

What's a master to do?

Well, I thought my sense of guilt over not writing any papers (since I've graduated!) would dissipate with time.  I have been busily filling my time with concerts, fairs, festivals, family, and friends like any good graduate would do.  The sense of guilt began to dissipate, somewhat, but it would still flare now and then.  I'd be reading one of my novels, and I'd suddenly think in the middle of a sentence, "I should really be revising my thesis."  Then I remembered that the thesis has been done for two months and does not need to be revised any more.  I got a note from my committee chair thanking me for the gift I sent her, and I have to remind myself that I'm not going to be seeing her every week this fall.  Of course, as I live less than an hour away from my school, I can see her whenever I want, but now it's going to be because I want to.  When I walk home after going dancing, I think, "Okay, now I'm going to work on my paper" before I realize that I don't have any papers to do.

But overall, very slowly, the guilt began to dissipate somewhat.  I thought I'd be done with it soon enough. 

But now it's back in full force!  I see those ads EVERYWHERE advertising back to school!  I have even participated in the back to school sales (hey, a girl can never have too many glitter gel pens).  I see the schools in the area with messages on their signs for the new students.  I even overlook a church and parish school from my home, and I see its sign welcoming the students back.  My colleagues who have kids talk about college searches, getting the kids back on schedule, and being organized...

And then it hits me like a ton of bricks!  I AM FINISHED AND NOT GOING BACK! 

I don't know what to think about that.  I mean, part of me is thrilled that I can read whatever I want (hello Forsyte Saga) and do what I like (another cross country train trip!), whenever I want it.  But...part of me is really thinking that something got left behind in the process.  I won't miss living a laser-focused life on my thesis, but I will definitely miss my professors and classmates.  Though I have a very smart workplace (and they're currently taking bets on what degree I'll get next) and love being there, I feel like I'll miss the steady exchange of ideas and the feedback on those ideas.  I'll miss the guided course of study.  And I will miss the archives!  I developed an iron butt from sitting in the archives for hours last summer!

In short, I'm gonna miss school!  What am I going to do?  I've been living such a jam-packed life that I still feel like I have to attend my classes and work on my thesis.  It is like a phantom limb, only with activities!  What am I going to do?  I can't see it getting any better!  When school starts back up again, I'll probably feel weird that I'm not going.  When I go to events at my school, I can't say I'm a master's candidate because I have a master's degree now.  Hell, when it's Christmas time, my little cousin and my sister will have loads of college stories and for the first time in years, I will not!

Why can't this guilt leave me alone!?  Why can't it let me enjoy my life as a master of arts?  Or do I need a PhD?  But if I go for the PhD, it will one day have to be finished as well.  When it's done, THEN WHAT?

What's a master of arts to do?

Diamonds and Rust

Diamonds and Rust

Well I'll be damned
Here comes your ghost again
But that's not unusual
It's just that the moon is full
And you happened to call

And here I sit, hand on the telephone
Hearing a voice I'd known
A couple of light years ago
Heading straight for a fall

As I remember your eyes
Were bluer than robin's eggs
"My poetry was lousy", you said
Where are you calling from?
A booth in the Midwest

Thirty years ago
I bought you some cuff links
You brought me something
And we both know what memories can bring
They bring diamonds and rust

You burst on the scene
Already a legend
The unwashed phenomenon
The original vagabond
You strayed into my arms

And there you stayed
Temporarily lost at sea
The Madonna was yours for free
Yes the girl on the half-shell
Would keep you unharmed

Now I see you standing
With brown leaves falling around
An' snow in your hair
Now you're smiling out the window
Of that crummy hotel over Washington Square

Our breath comes out white clouds
Mingles and hangs in the air
Speaking strictly for me
We both could have died then and there

Now you're telling me
You're not nostalgic
Then give me another word for it
You, who are so good with words
And at keeping things vague

'Cause I need some of that vagueness now

It's all come back too clearly
I once loved you dearly
And if you're offering me diamonds and rust
Well, I'll take the diamonds

Performed by the inspiring Joan Baez.  Saw her live this year with the talented Indigo Girls (yes, they came to the north burbs!  My wish came true!!!!!!!), and their three-part harmony encore was a national treasure.

Steel and silk

I don't want to be the girl you can call your Mrs
I'm always myself, whether I'm with you or not
And when you're with me, you never will settle
You know I would give you the best that I've got

Steel on silk and silk on steel
Is exactly what I want to feel
Steel on silk and silk on steel
Is exactly what I want to feel

I don't want to be the girl you have to protect
I'm the princess that always rescues herself.
You don't need to swoop in saving the day
Cause I'm ready to fight and can do it myself

Listen, I can revel, and I can fight
Don't assume that I need you help
If you dare me to, I'll be going all night
I don't need you to save me, I can do it myself
I can do it myself

I'm steel on silk and silk on steel
It's exactly what I want to feel
Steel on silk and silk on steel
Is exactly what I want to feel

I'm steel on silk and silk on steel
It's exactly what I want to feel
Steel on silk and silk on steel
Is exactly what I want to feel
(C) Revel With a Cause Productions