You can hardly hurt a saint.
I'm not a saint.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Monday, July 06, 2009
Scholarly Idea
Has anyone studied the impact of social networking on international relations? I think it would be an interesting paper for a political science professor or sociology scholar to write. Seeing photos of everyday life from around the globe in one's personal Facebook "news feed" seems to drive home the idea that we're not so different after all.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
July 5
I suppose it's about time I started posting on this blog again.
Not that the whirlwind of activity is over yet. Even though I've now sold most of my worldly posessions amd am back in Michigan at my parents' house, waiting for my flight to Boston in a little over a week (after a one-day orientation in Boston, I will fly to Cape Verde), I still have yet to sell my car, pack, and purchase supplies and clothes for my journey. Oh, not to mention work on my Rosetta Stone, finish a couple of writing assignments, and complete a handful of other tasks, like granting my father (an attorney) Power of Attorney over my affairs. My brother and sister-in-law are also flying in from D.C. next weekend and so I need to set aside time to spend with them, which is of course a joy and not a burden. But it does mean that I don't have as much time as I'd like to prepare for this two-year, three-month trip I'm about to take. None of this has even really sunk in yet - I'm just doing what needs to be done at this point.
Not that the whirlwind of activity is over yet. Even though I've now sold most of my worldly posessions amd am back in Michigan at my parents' house, waiting for my flight to Boston in a little over a week (after a one-day orientation in Boston, I will fly to Cape Verde), I still have yet to sell my car, pack, and purchase supplies and clothes for my journey. Oh, not to mention work on my Rosetta Stone, finish a couple of writing assignments, and complete a handful of other tasks, like granting my father (an attorney) Power of Attorney over my affairs. My brother and sister-in-law are also flying in from D.C. next weekend and so I need to set aside time to spend with them, which is of course a joy and not a burden. But it does mean that I don't have as much time as I'd like to prepare for this two-year, three-month trip I'm about to take. None of this has even really sunk in yet - I'm just doing what needs to be done at this point.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Going-Away Party
Some of my closest friends threw a party for me last night in which they said exceedingly kind things about me and then gave me this incredible book filled with photos, cards and hand-made pages. I teared up a few times during the speeches, and was really taken back by the book, which was easily one of the best gifts I've ever received.
The whole evening was such a gracious time, and I really believe it to be the sort of thing that everyone should experience at least once -- probably multiple times -- in life. To be told how fundamentally good we are does so much more for the spirit and for our desire to grow spiritually than to be told the opposite.
I won't elaborate, but I can't really stress that point enough.
The whole evening was such a gracious time, and I really believe it to be the sort of thing that everyone should experience at least once -- probably multiple times -- in life. To be told how fundamentally good we are does so much more for the spirit and for our desire to grow spiritually than to be told the opposite.
I won't elaborate, but I can't really stress that point enough.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Michael Jackson
Like so many others, I was saddened to hear of Michael Jackson's sudden death yesterday.
One of the more memorable moments of my childhood was when, at about five years of age, my uncle let me listen to "Thriller" on his Walkman. Even as a child, I was captivated by the song and wanted to listen to it again and again. I had never heard anything like it. As I grew older, I followed Michael's career and became a real fan of his, but unfortunately, like so many other genius-caliber artists, Michael wasn't nearly as successful in his personal life as he was in music. There was a dark personal side to Michael that can never be excused, but can also never be fully appreciated without understanding his dysfunctional and abusive childhood -- a childhood he was clearly never able to come to terms with.
My prayers are with Michael's family, and also with those who were tragically hurt by this sensitive and very dysfunctional person -- a person who just so happened to be one of the most influential musicians in world history.
One of the more memorable moments of my childhood was when, at about five years of age, my uncle let me listen to "Thriller" on his Walkman. Even as a child, I was captivated by the song and wanted to listen to it again and again. I had never heard anything like it. As I grew older, I followed Michael's career and became a real fan of his, but unfortunately, like so many other genius-caliber artists, Michael wasn't nearly as successful in his personal life as he was in music. There was a dark personal side to Michael that can never be excused, but can also never be fully appreciated without understanding his dysfunctional and abusive childhood -- a childhood he was clearly never able to come to terms with.
My prayers are with Michael's family, and also with those who were tragically hurt by this sensitive and very dysfunctional person -- a person who just so happened to be one of the most influential musicians in world history.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Can't Make This Up
Pretty good day yesterday:
A deep-tissue massage from my good friend Dar; coffee with my priest, Father Jerry; more household items sold on Craig's List; and an attractive woman who approached me in a coffee shop, asking if I was a model.
Laugh all you want blog readers, but I'm not kidding: that happened.
All I could do was shake my head and say,
"This is a really good day."
I don't even care: I'll name-drop and tell you that Dar's amazing husband is in a band called The Fray and I took Dar to the airport so she could fly to New York and see her hubby perform on the Today Show.
Whatever happens, this has been a really good life filled with mostly good things.
Never tolerate complaining from me.
I've been really loved by people -- and I've loved -- and I've been given all kinds of things I don't deserve. The only thing that feels better is to give some of that love back to those who haven't been as fortunate.
A deep-tissue massage from my good friend Dar; coffee with my priest, Father Jerry; more household items sold on Craig's List; and an attractive woman who approached me in a coffee shop, asking if I was a model.
Laugh all you want blog readers, but I'm not kidding: that happened.
All I could do was shake my head and say,
"This is a really good day."
I don't even care: I'll name-drop and tell you that Dar's amazing husband is in a band called The Fray and I took Dar to the airport so she could fly to New York and see her hubby perform on the Today Show.
Whatever happens, this has been a really good life filled with mostly good things.
Never tolerate complaining from me.
I've been really loved by people -- and I've loved -- and I've been given all kinds of things I don't deserve. The only thing that feels better is to give some of that love back to those who haven't been as fortunate.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Political Action Committees and Inaction on the Moving Front
A few quick things this morning.
First of all, I got an email from Fred Thompson's "Political Action Committee" this morning in which Fred, a former Republican senator from Tennessee, complains about President Obama's "irrelevance" on the situation in Iran. A few things here: First of all, how in the world did I get on the email list for Fred Thompson's Political Action Committee? I certainly wasn't a supporter. Secondly, when I clicked on the "unsubscribe" button, the link was broken, so I had to email Fred's team and ask to be removed from the distribution list. I can't even tell you how tempted I was to put a zinger in my email that went something like this: "Speaking of 'irrelevance', see Fred Thompson's 2008 presidential bid." Nothing against Fred Thompson -- I'm sure he's a nice person and an intelligent guy (not to mention a pretty decent actor), and I was at one time interested in what Thompson might bring to the presidential campaign -- but Fred made one of the more uninspiring, insipid runs for president in American history. Judging from the look on his face and his overall body language on the campaign trail, it was as if he had lost a bet -- like maybe he really wanted to be pool-side but instead had to grit his teeth and campaign, and all because an old college buddy beat him in poker.
Secondly, if anyone wants to help me get rid of my possessions and organize/ box things, please let me know. I keep looking around my house with a sort of dull, vacant expression on my face, unsure what to do next. Finally, I'm getting a massage from Dar tomorrow and my teeth cleaned at the dentist's office on Thursday. I may be unorganized and far from ready to move, but at least I'll be relaxed and have clean teeth while realizing how woefully unprepared I am.
First of all, I got an email from Fred Thompson's "Political Action Committee" this morning in which Fred, a former Republican senator from Tennessee, complains about President Obama's "irrelevance" on the situation in Iran. A few things here: First of all, how in the world did I get on the email list for Fred Thompson's Political Action Committee? I certainly wasn't a supporter. Secondly, when I clicked on the "unsubscribe" button, the link was broken, so I had to email Fred's team and ask to be removed from the distribution list. I can't even tell you how tempted I was to put a zinger in my email that went something like this: "Speaking of 'irrelevance', see Fred Thompson's 2008 presidential bid." Nothing against Fred Thompson -- I'm sure he's a nice person and an intelligent guy (not to mention a pretty decent actor), and I was at one time interested in what Thompson might bring to the presidential campaign -- but Fred made one of the more uninspiring, insipid runs for president in American history. Judging from the look on his face and his overall body language on the campaign trail, it was as if he had lost a bet -- like maybe he really wanted to be pool-side but instead had to grit his teeth and campaign, and all because an old college buddy beat him in poker.
Secondly, if anyone wants to help me get rid of my possessions and organize/ box things, please let me know. I keep looking around my house with a sort of dull, vacant expression on my face, unsure what to do next. Finally, I'm getting a massage from Dar tomorrow and my teeth cleaned at the dentist's office on Thursday. I may be unorganized and far from ready to move, but at least I'll be relaxed and have clean teeth while realizing how woefully unprepared I am.
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