Story time

So, I know you've all been wondering what Kris Kringle season up at TAC is like. Well, maybe you haven't been... maybe there isn't an existent "you".... but I'm going to tell you what happened to me during that strange week anyway. :)

KK season is one of silliness, humiliation, and laughter. You draw from a large box a slip of paper with someone's name on it and you are that person's KK. You play pranks on them, do nice things for them, make them do silly/stupid things for the amusement of others. Christian charity should be the rule which overrules everything, and it generally is. At the end of the week is the Christmas dance, during which you find your KK and you are rewarded with a present. The whole thing is a fun tradition, which the tutors dread to some degree, as do any participants.

My personal experience was rather funny. I didn't hear anything from my KK for a week, but he certainly made up for that. I found a note in my box Thursday night, telling me that I had to wear all black - "as much black as possible" - and sing Defying Gravity from the musical Wicked to my Latin tutor before class the next day. I was also supposed to find a witch hat to complete the costume, but couldn't find one. Trying to keep to the spirit of things, I completed my ensemble with a broomstick. Also in my box was a surgical mask, along with instructions to wear it between the end of class and dinner. When I was asked why I was wearing it, I was to reply with "oink oink oink." The first request (singing) I was willing to comply with. I enjoy singing, and my Latin tutor is a good sport. I was nervous, yes, but it was fairly easy. The second one, however, I couldn't do. I have an abhorrence of those things... they make me feel really sick.

Friday afternoon, I got a new note in my box telling me that, since I had enjoyed the first prank so much, I had to wear a very interesting outfit for the remainder of the day. A friend's pink pants (which would never fit me. EVER), the highest heels I could find (with the instructions to NOT fall over) and my sparkly heart shirt from (dare I tell you?) Victoria's Secret. This shirt had a history... basically, a good friend was over at our house when I realized where it was from over Thanksgiving. I reacted in an inordinate fashion and he laughed at me. And he was also good friends with my KK. The two of them put their heads together to make mischief for me. So after class on Friday, I was decked out in all this finery (jeans substituting for the pink pants) and whenever anyone asked why I was dressed in such a fashion, I had to respond "It's a secret" and point to the part of the shirt with the brand logo. I was rather embarrassed, but it was in good fun.

Besides, I was well rewarded. I was given a large (and I mean LARGE) box full of chocolate. My KK and friend figured they had put me through a lot and should be nice to me. It will be a memory that will make me smile for years to come. :)

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane

However, unlike John Denver, I know with a fair amount of certitude when I'll be back again. The mob is packing up and heading up to see my mom's father. It looks like this will be a "good-bye" trip... pray for us if you would.

On a more pleasant note, here's a picture of the mountains surrounding my beautiful campus. This was the first snowfall of the year.



This is what it looked like down on campus.

Christmas time

I lied about posting at Thanksgiving. I know I didn't promise anything, but I still feel negligent. In all honesty, the thought of posting did not even enter this little brain of mine. I arrived late Wednesday afternoon with two additions, had Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, went KK shopping, uploaded pictures to facebook, generally chilled out on Friday, and then was back on campus by lunch on Saturday. Yes, we're crazy. It was a short trip home, but when you aren't driving, your opinion is not important. And I didn't mind it... it was good to have a day to just hang with friends on campus. The stress of school doesn't make that possible. I, at least, am always worried about something that is due in the future (whether that future is near or far is inconsequential - it if is due, I view it as a large knife hanging over my head)

Then school started again. It is a bit of a downhill slide from Thanksgiving break to Christmas break. There are a lot of goings on to keep you busy, as well as that bleak raincloud with the word FINALS etched across it. It sits on the horizon, gloating over you. No matter how much happiness, frivolity, and joy you may have up until then, that raincloud will pour torrential amounts of water upon you. But I love it. I really do. Seven days of intense academia, but you are well-rewarded for them. You see everything you learned come together to a wonderful, cohesive whole and you do it in the company of some of the greatest people on the planet. And there is nothing as satisfying as walking out of a final feeling you succeeded to the utmost of your abilities. Yes, it takes hours to reach the level of confidence which that thrill demands. Believe me, though, it is worth it. When you can explain with ease the phlogiston theory and Lavoisier's counter argument as well as the definition of motion and the principles of change, you feel accomplished. I suppose that is why so many people view TAC sophomores as conceited and annoying. We are simply reveling in the fact that we know what we are supposed to know. And that is a wonderful feeling which cannot be contained, though, perhaps, it should be.

Then home. Christmas was only a week away when I arrived. The bustle of the season is incredible, yet surreal. Three weeks off seem a long stretch, but one that is gone in but an instant. I have been home for approximately 9 days now, and I until January 10th to enjoy it. And I will. I have been up until this moment, and there is nothing to impede me from continuing in that enjoyment. Home is good!

SURPRISE!!!

I'm posting! In the middle of the semester!!! I must be insane!

It's Saturday afternoon, and I'm in the library. I just read about 40 pages of St. Augustine's Confessions after I had been fighting with a weird exercise in the Ptolemy manual. I didn't eat lunch today, since the green glop which was served did not closely enough resemble Mexican food. Many of my Saturdays here at school go this way. And, unlike at home, getting on the computer and blogging is much like an afterthought. I never think of it when I have time to do it. Today, for some reason, is different.

The year has been rolling along. Kind of like a roller coaster. It has its ups and its downs, but it isn't a ride I would choose to get off. I'm taking 6 classes this semester (as I was last year as well) and they keep me busy. I'm managing to have ETMF frequently, partially due to the presence of two freshmen whom always make me happier.

When I'm home for Thanksgiving, I'm hoping to post a bit. We'll see if that happens. In the meantime, God bless!!!!

Progress, Slow but Sure

In my desperate attempt to find employment, I sent out an email. It was a fairly mass email - it included everyone who has been in or involved with our parish choir since the invention of email. Well, not quite, but almost. It was, more or less, a "take pity on me and hire me" type of email. In it I offered to babysit, house sit, clean, do office work, food and bev work, sewing, etc. And in two days, I've heard two things! Within a half an hour of sending it out, I heard from a woman who owns a company who can potentially give me work and from a retired general who needs his garage cleaned. I haven't heard from the lady again, but I just got back after three hours of manual labor. It felt good, especially after I was given some money. I go back tomorrow to plow through more junk. (I would just like to take this time to note that I am eternally grateful that I am NOT a pack-rat. I mercilessly throw things away) And then, on Saturday, my music teacher has hired me and several other of her students to paint the interior of her house. In addition to all of this, a friend of a friend needs some alterations done. Between all of these things, I should be able to put some decent money in the bank!

The other response I got from the email was not quite as happy. The man, a retired Admiral, isn't able to give me any work, but he offered his prayers. (I wonder - he was the team leader of the Blue Angels at one point - do angel's prayers count more? ;-)) Then he mentioned that he knew Dr. Dillon. They were friends and had gone to seminary together. He asked that I say hello to him from him. It almost made me cry to do it, but I had to respond that Dr. Dillon had passed away. I was able to send him a link containing information about the accident and such, but I hated to tell him that way. Dr. Dillon touched so many people... more people than he probably ever imagined when he was alive. I guess he knows now, though...

An Untimely Demise

A good friend from school came down here to visit me this weekend. We had a lot of fun - we went and saw a chick-flick (The Proposal, which was very cute, btw), went to Mass downtown at OLR where she got to see one set of her many aunts and uncles and eight smallish cousins, went swimming, had a picnic, went boating on a lake, and watched another chick-flick (Miss Congeniality). I was so happy to see her! I miss all of my wonderful friends at school incredibly... she was a dear for trekking down here to see me!

She seemed to enjoy her visit (if actions and words are honest indicators), despite an unfortunate event. An event which stopped time itself - or, at least, an instrument which tells it. Her timex, left on a chair outside while we were swimming, met its end. The culprit? Our 10 year old Golden Retriever, Wanda. She, apparently, ate the entire band of our guest's metal watch. We have since recovered a small fraction of the band, hidden in a corner of our yard, but 90% of the item still remains missing. Thankfully, our guest was not upset, but she was greatly amused by the incident.

Dogs certainly do keep life interesting...

Munchkin Mania

The past week and half has been utterly crazy! On Tuesday last, our aunt and two small cousins arrived from SJ for a visit. It was tiring. Small children in unfamiliar environments aren't the easiest to keep happy, entertained, or just plain safe!



But, eventually, six a.m. Saturday morning arrived. The clan headed back to SJ with a couple of additions - my sister and me! We spent from Saturday until today (Friday) riding around the Bay Area visiting all sorts of family. We took the train to our grandmother's once, but other than that, five of us squashed into a medium-sized Volvo. It would've been fine with three normal sized adults. But when you add a ginormous car seat and moderately sized, but inconveniently placed booster seat into the equation, fitting into the middle seat is an art!



It was, despite the slight inconveniences encountered, a lot of fun! But I'm glad to be home :)

Job update

In case anyone is wondering, this is my job situation at present:

I am "employed" by the temporary agency. This means, if they have any opportunities available which I am qualified for, they will call me. It's a rather hazardous thing... I could get no work or I could be offered work that I cannot accept due to prior engagements (physical therapy, for one) It's a game of "hurry up and wait"

The second thing I just applied to today. There is a lady nearby with six month old twins who wants a part-time, helping hand. This would be very similar to what I did with "my babies" just last year. This is the PERFECT job. I would love the work, it's close to home, and the hours allow me to work around my physical therapy schedule. I can only hope and pray that she likes me and hasn't filled the position already!

The Saga of the Shoes

Shoes have always been something which have caused me trouble. My sister, being the easy, amiable, and simply person that she is, was always able to be fitted out with shoe from Payless. Thus, when I became old enough to need shoes, my mother assumed that the bargain-priced shoes would be sufficient for me as well. Alas, much to her discomfiture, those shoes would not do. In fact, they literally dissolved from around my little girl feet. My feet followed the rest of me, true to form: hard to satisfy and the bargain deal never works out.

Well, years later, my physical therapists have urged me to get good shoes. My first really good pair of running shoes was bought five years ago. We went to the shoe store which specializes in finding the perfectly-fitting shoe. The prices run a little high, but it's worth it for the amazing service. But again, I needed new shoes. My new PT took one look at my shoes and declared that I need new ones. So, Mum and I went on Tuesday to the sports store. Unfortunately, one hour and twenty pairs of shoes later, we had not found anything that fit me. I have what I call duck feet - very narrow heels and absurdly wide toes. Shoes are not generally made in this triangular shape. It was a frustrating and fruitless effort.

This afternoon, though, the saga came to an end. Dad and I drove 45 minutes to the good shoe store. The close branch, which we had made the previous purchase from, had since closed. But in retrospect, the drive was worth it. I walked in the door, showed the nice salesman (and no, that is not a contradiction of terms) my perfect, but old, shoes, told him about my feet, told him my size. He walked into the back, pulled out a pair of shoes, I tried them on and TA DA! another pair of perfect shoes! It was as easy as pie... maybe easier!

Breakdown of PT, day 2

So, it has officially begun. My first of the appointments that will be part of my schedule for the next month or so is over. The events of the day:

~ My foot and ankle muscles are really, really, really, REALLY tight. But my ligaments are gone
~ Was introduced to "The Stick." I know it sounds like a medieval torture device, but it's this really cool massage thingy. Pretty neat, actually.
~ Discovered sanitizer makes towels like sandpaper
~ Flexible joints make stretching one's muscles correctly difficult
~ PT, when you're an "adult", is all about doing things that make you look like an idiot

Aren't you jealous? :P

Breakdown of PT, day 1

I had my first physical therapy appointment today for my feet and ankles. This is what I was told, summarized in bullet points:

~ I walk too fast
~ I'm too young for this kind of thing
~ My ligaments are pretty much gone in my ankles and my muscles are super tense to compensate
~ I would fall over every step I take, but you can see me compensating dramatically
~ My right foot is still swollen and "mad at me"
~ I don't have any range of motion problems except the excessive kind
~ I'm a loosey-goosey girl all 'round

Yay! I have a whole four weeks to fix these things!!! (save the first and last ones... the first really isn't a problem and the last is just something I'll have to deal with permanently) This will add a bit of excitement to the summer :-/

Because I can, not because I should

Book Meme
1. What author do you own the most books by?
J.R.R. Tolkein, I think, but my shelves are pretty diverse

2. What book do you own the most copies of?
The Bible... I've got a whole two copies! :D

3. Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?
haha, yes!

4. What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
I have to pick one? Impossible!

5. What book have you read the most times in your life?
Probably either LOTR or the Anne of Green Gables series, maybe Pride and Prejudice

6. Favorite book as a ten year old?
I didn't really have favorites... I just liked reading generally.

7. What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year?
Worst or most boring? Herodatus wins the most boring count, but I really, really disliked Plato's Republic (don't shoot me!)

8. What is the best book you’ve read in the past year?
Best objectively or most enjoyed? Objectively, the Bible. Subjectively, probably Jane Austen's Persuasion

9. If you could force everyone you know to read one book, what would it be?
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

10. What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
I'd like to see good adaptations of all of the Anne books

11. What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?
The Grapes of Wrath... I couldn't finish it

12. What is your favorite book?
LOTR trilogy, followed closely by the Narnia series

13. Play?
The Jeweller's Shop... the only one I think I've ever seen. Most stage productions I have seen were musicals.

14. Poem?
The Star Spangled Banner. 'Twas really a poem before it was a song, I promise.

15. Essay?
Drawing a blank.

16. Who is the most overrated writer alive today?
I'm going to have to go with my sister on this. Interesting enough story, not enough story development, too long, poorly written, lots and lots of hype

17. What is your desert island book?
Emma or Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

18. And . . . what are you reading right now?
The Aeneid (for school), War and Peace (for an experiment of sorts), and I want to pick up Persuasion again, but I keep forgetting to every time I walk past the book shelf

Mr. Weather-man?

I think the weather is confused. It seems to think it's March and not June. It has been cloudy and pretty chilly for the past week. We even got thunder and lightning on Wednesday. I had a plan of swimming and getting some good sun this summer (something I wasn't able to do because of my shoulder stuff the past couple of years) but it is rather chilly and cloudy. Maybe I'm a wimp, but maybe not. I like the fact that it isn't roasting hot... but I miss the sunshine. It'll get hot soon enough, I suppose. July, August, and even September are invariably warm.

But maybe I'm the one who is confused. Maybe it IS March and I failed out of TAC and they sent me home early and I just think it's June and I just finished freshman year. But that doesn't seem likely. I think the weather-man is confuzzled.

Contraries coexisting

One of the principles which is universally accepted is this: a thing cannot both exist and not exist at the same time in the same respect.

But productivity is something which can exist and not exist at the same time, albeit not in the same respect. (productive can be said in many ways) In my life right now, I'm incredibly busy, but seem to be doing nothing. At present, my to-do list reads something like this:

- find a job
- read The Aeneid
- read War and Peace
- sew a quilt
- get to physical therapy
- go shoe shopping (including orthotics)
- study latin
- learn C++ programming language

I also just finished writing three letters to friends from school, have a couple more to do, have to help with the upcoming Cunningham wedding shower and the big day itself... all in all, I have a lot on my plate. But no matter how much of this I get done, unless I get item #1 on the list done, I won't really feel like I'm accomplishing anything. It's this familiar uphill climb... I just feel like I'm sliding backwards. Pray for me!

Good ol' Teddy

Following the death of Dr. Dillon, the administration distributed many, many copies of this excerpt from Theodore Roosevelt.

The Man in the Arena
It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.

Quote List

Some samples of the ingenius things TACers say... in class no less :D

"And graphite is actually pretty brittle, so I don't think you want to be a graphite woman." CB

"With touching circles, it's a more loving relationship. It's the circles of love.. this book is all about relationships." Mr. Finley

"The effect caused the cause to cause the effect." SO'N

"What are you going from?" "I'm going from just, like, logic." Mr. Froelich & JE

"My microwave works faster than your computer." CB

"So our hair is like urine" Mr. Froelich

"Hair is like our bark." "And last week it was like pee." Mr. Froelich & NM

"The uterus doesn't know (the gender of the baby); it just hopes for the best." JE

"Put the chalk where your mouth is." CS

"Mr. O'Reilly, if badder makes you happy, then go for it." BH

"I can blow my nose - soon I'll be driving a car!" Mr. O'Reilly

"If animals cause you to sin, cut them off." Mr. O'Reilly

"Every time a bell rings at TAC, someone articulates a coherent thought." TM

"Let's be philosophic chickens." Mr. O'Reilly

"I'm trying to make it absurd to the extent that it's understandable." TM

"If you can't see that the table is brown, then you obviously need a stick instead of philosophy." Mr. O'Reilly

"His wife is a manifestation of the house." EL

"He's blaming the screwdriver." ZL

"Your tiny bit of fun is not just a twinkie." "It's an illegal twinkie" Mr. O'Reilly and JD

"But that kleenex box is not God." JE

"The kingdom of heaven is like a broken car." JE

Growing Pains

Over the past nine months, I've learned a lot about myself. It's a pretty typical occurrence, I believe... it follows naturally from the complete transplantation that I underwent. In "The Incredibles," the boss is explaining to Bob that the company is a clock in which "all the little cogs mesh together." At home, I know exactly what my cog is supposed to be. That isn't to say I execute my function perfectly, but rather that I know what it's supposed to be. At school, my cog has remained rather elusive. I have a lot to learn still, but I did discover a particular peeve of mine: lack of communication.

My family communicates incredibly well. Anything and everything that is going on is shared freely amongst the five of us. We don't have secrets generally and if you have a problem with someone, you address it. I thought this - the latter part specifically - was typical. It isn't. I, over the course of the school year, managed to annoy/get on the wrong side of several people. It wasn't intentional, thus, when these people started avoiding me and/or snapping at me, I had absolutely no idea why! I had to go chase them down, ask them what I had done, and apologize. Then things were (usually) fine and hunky-dory again. But it would have saved so much time and emotional strain if people felt comfortable enough with me to confront me about whatever it was I did or was doing. Maybe I was just spoiled by growing up in an Italian family where communication is a priority, but this all seemed rather unreasonable and rather high-school-ish to me. I guess I've found a pet peeve: people who hold grudges and don't do anything to try to solve the issue.

Maybe I'm being unreasonable. If I do the wrong, maybe I should be the one to fix it. I probably should. It just gets tiring when one isn't used to it!

well, um...

It's been a really long time. And I'm pretty sure the only person who is still reading this sadly neglected blog is my sister. So I guess it will serve the purpose as being an outlet for my feelings and a source of updates for her.

I just got back from a wonderful, fantastic, exhausting, exhilerating (however you spell that), phenomenal, dramatic, and awe-inspiring year at TAC. And while first semester was incredible, the second one was even better. There were incredible high points when everyone was happy, healthy, and pleasantly busy. Unfortunately, however, for every high point there seemed to be an equally low point. Our school lost its beloved president tragically in an automobile accident. The shock came after the dedication of our campus chapel - a work of art which was carefully supervised and promoted by our late president. Even through our grief, though, we were able to see God's hand at work. Incredible symbolism met us at every turn. One particularly striking instance of this was that, on the day of his death, the construction crew was installing the sanctuary gate which had not arrived in time for the dedication. One one gate was the Greek symbol for Alpha and on the other the symbol for Omega. It signified the end of the project, which many consider to be his greatest legacy. He was the chapel's beginning... and it his life did not end until its construction had.

This year was an incredible growing experience for me, as well. I walked onto campus last August thinking I knew who I was. I discovered very quickly that I did not. And while I have still not figured out exactly who God intends this bagel to be, I know many things He does not want her to be. I wore many hats this year, none of which fit me very well. But there are only so many hats in the store of life... I have to find the right one eventually.

This summer could not have come at a better time, though. People were beginning to get overtired. And when you know people as well as you do at a school with 350 people, when you get tired you get persnicketty with them very quickly. Emotions were running high, there were tears, tantrums, nervous breakdowns, anxiety attacks, talks til 4 am... all things that would not have happened in January or February. Hopefully they won't happen in August of September either. As they say, "absence makes the heart grow fonder." And I'm sure it will. But we now all have three months to breathe and reacquire charity :D

Chesterton

For years now, I've wanted to make the acquaintance of a well-renown gentleman who has stolen his way into the hearts of countless people. This man's name is G. K. Chesterton. And on Sunday evening, I discovered that our family had acquired the complete Father Brown adventures in my absence. There it was, sitting on the shelf. All I had to do was reach out and grab it, and then I too would be able to glean something from those pearls of wisdom which I had so often heard praised. So I did. Now I'm in love.

Chesterton writes his stories in an easy to read fashion. He sets up every scene with care, and leaves this reader in awe of his descriptive prowess. Then the mysteries themselves are works of art. Each one is fascinating and absorbing, and all have the added bonus of never being too long. But within these stories, which are sometimes lighthearted and sometimes disquieting, are woven profound truths. Those little pearls of wisdom are delicately placed - frequent enough to keep you constantly in awe of his insight and scarce enough to surprise you when you come upon one. "Oh, he's done it again!" is a thought which has frequently crossed my mind.

I have only one qualm, one complaint: that I won't possibly be able to finish the volume before I go back to school on Sunday!