That Song

It's so maddening to have a snatch of a song stuck in your head and not be able to identify it, not just because you don't remember the rest of the song, but also because you probably never knew the title and all the lyrics are probably as vague and incoherent as are the ones of the snatch you CAN remember.  It goes like this: da da DAA da da da, DAAA da da da daaaa.  Or something.  It might be classic rock.

Climbing with a Polish Guy

Before moving squarely back into my information overload and further musings on graduate student life, I must say a few words about the last hurrah of summer I've experienced in the past few days: going rock climbing with a random Polish guy I met on rockclimbing.com.

First of all, it's been darn inconvenient! Initially (meaning, before school started and work happened and I realized there was no way), I had hoped to set aside Thursday through Sunday solely for climbing. However . . . no. I had to renege on my promises, which made me feel guilty of course, but there was no way around it because of my work schedule and commitments. Work is a good thing--and it helps pay for expensive climbing gear!

Second, it's been a blast. I do love climbing: maybe not every day, maybe not every moment, but there's just something about getting out there, pushing your limits, winding up with dirt under your fingernails. It's great.

Third, Amadek (the Polish guy) is interesting. Not to generalize, but I tend to find people from Europe interesting to begin with, simply because they have a way different perspective on the world and its happenings from what we get here in the U.S. So there's that. And he's also a really good climber, unfailingly kind to me (in putting up all the top ropes and cleaning the routes when I can't--basically the boyfriend-climber role, without the benefits), VERY phlegmatic, seems to make himself at home anyplace, and also gives the impression of being at least two or three years younger than he is. I have to admit, too, that I have the typical American girl delight in the cute accent, such as the way he emphatically says "nooo" or "let's go!" or "yes, of course" or "I suppose"--you have to wonder where people pick up these quirks in a second language.

So, even though I climbed only yesterday (Saturday) and part of Thursday afternoon, I think it's been a good and broadening experience to have. A lot of my limits and my comfort zone levels have been pushed, and in ways that I didn't expect. For instance, I didn't realize how much my stress levels were affected by not having a really GOOD idea what I would be doing from one day to the next, or being fully able to drive that scheduling process. I also have a better understanding of how exposure (or lack of exposure) on the rock affects my feelings and mental processes during rock climbing. A lot of good stuff like that. In short, my life is beautiful and amazing and thanks be to God and my good angels for keeping me safe, if not quite sane. :)

TMI

Agh!!!! Too much information . . . this could never be truer than in the first week of classes in a library and information science program. That is all.

IT Person

I'm a bit tired of being pigeonholed as an IT person. Clearly, I don't want to sit at a desk and do software development, because that is precisely what I've left behind. Still, my resume is chock full of the stuff: technologies, IT skills, computer literacy. It's all very good and very "marketable," but not extremely exciting to me. I'd rather get in people's heads (not literally) and figure out what is really best for us to do from the perspective of wisdom. It might very well be less technology rather than more, or the same amount--I don't know yet. I feel it will be very important for me to explore these ideas, however, in the coming days. I need to make a plan.

A Change of Pace

For the past several weeks, I have been living life on a fairly relaxed schedule, with only a few things to "get done" each week and very few appointments beyond daily Mass. I sense that is about to change. Grad school starts Monday and with it some very significant time commitments. Also, at some point I am praying work will arise for me. I really wanted to have everything "all lined up" but organizationally my life still leaves quite a bit to be desired, not least because there are still random belongings, papers, and laundry strewn across the floor of my room. About this something must be done. Moreover, like Emma Woodhouse, my attempts at a serious course of personal reading have come mostly to nothing, so the prospect of a large amount of academic reading is rather frightening. Reading? Yes, I suppose I remember how. Writing too, for that matter.

Writing Regularly

As part of our graduate student orientation, the writing center lady (who, by the way, was just really cool) said that we should write regularly, rather than spontaneously. So here I am. I am writing.

Renaissance Singer Hair

I have Renaissance singer hair. Women who sing Renaissance music generally have nondescript hairstyles, especially if their hair is straight. We are not known for beautiful hair. The exceptions might be ladies with long, curly locks, which always look very alluring and yet remain in keeping with the low-maintenance Renaissance look. Men Renaissance singers, for whatever reason, tend to have more exciting hair.