I 1/2 Years through...2 1/2 years more to go
As of Monday, the 15h of Dec. I am officially on winter break. And I am already soaking up every moment. I've caught up on sleep, got a new phone, bought some books on astrology and other subjects to help me feel more connected to the earth and the universe, especially in these harsh winter times (when cuddling up indoors seems the only choice), and started learning Dutch. It's been a day and a half and already I feel like a different person. Jenn even commented on how I seem to have changed overnight! Loving every minute. De kat is zwart en wit. Vier Kinderen springen. Drei Bolen: een en Oranje, een en blauwe, en een en geeel. Ridiculous sentences I will never need, but it's structure and grammar that is important. If I can master 4 languages in my lifetime, I will die a happy woman. (Up next: Spanish, followed by Russian, and then probably French or Japanese)
Lately, I've been struggling (as previously indicated) with being out of touch with the Earth. Living in a tiny one-bedroom in an apartment building with no porches or even natural sources of light, it is virtually impossible to try and garden, and between trying to find a place where our one plant can find both light and be out of reach of Goose, who loves to eat any plant life, I just don't know how else to get a connection. Even in the area, guerrilla gardening would be difficult, since there is barely any green space in the area - too much city and not enough nature in my opinion. Add in time constraints, no green thumbs to speak of, and especially enduring a harsh winter....The sooner Jenn and I can move, the happier I will be. I want access to a porch where I can set up an herbal garden, that faces East so the natural light will keep it alive in the winter. *sigh*...dreams.
Big controversy in Madison over the 911 center. Back in April a young woman was killed. She called 911 but the dispatcher didn't hear anything, and the call automatically disconnected, and a new call came in immediately. The center itself is understaffed and the dispatcher, a friend of the family, was already feeling burnt about it. This tragedy has caused quite a stir, and our friend is devastated. Tonight on CNN, Nancy Grace aired a segment on the incident and was, by far from kind or understanding towards either the police or the 911 center. From a legal perspective, I know that there was no negligence on either the dispatcher's part or the police, though perhaps the 911 center itself. But even so, it was a little devastating to watch national TV dissect this experience in the name of journalism and try to blame everyone but the perpetrator. I also realize my personal bias here, but it's one thing to have it be dealt with on a local level then to see it on the national news being spun in such a way as to lead people to jump to conclusions without all the facts (and I assure you, the media does not, and are not privy to certain facts). Pissed me off. Not that I am surprised. I am just once again disappointed with mainstream media but on a much, much more personal level.
Let's see what else I can ramble on about...ah yes. My cumulative debt, dreams of living abroad, "indecisions" about my path in life...and I am not even close to being halfway through. Sometimes I think I should have just become a teacher. Other times I think about getting my PhD in Women's Studies focusing on feminist jurisprudence or sex work (specifically transgender sex workers and the impact of legalization/criminalization of sex work and its impact), and still other times I sway back and forth between public interest/human rights lawyering or private estate/family law GLBT oriented lawyering. Jenn and I want to live abroad more than anything but all signs point to places like NY, DC, San Francisco or LA. Places I want to live? No. But are the jobs I want there? Yep. But, one of the benefits of earning a dual degree is you have more time to figure out what the hell you are doing....
And on an end note...a few weeks ago, my mom was vacuuming and her uterus basically fell out. She's having surgery on the 29th to have a hysterectomy and to put her liver back in its rightful place...I think I am more nervous about it than my mom is, so I am planning on being in Madison from the 28th-4thm since I am spending the holiday season with Jenn, her family, and our friends. My 2nd holiday sans my family - last time 8 years ago when I was in Germany. It'll be weird...especially because Jenn's family celebrates with chili. I don't like chili. We might just bring a tofurkey - 'cause it is vegalicious! Anyway, I am rambling 'cause I am on sedatives but resisting bedtime. Best up and go to sleep. Tomorrow (or today actually) is massive cleaning and cleansing day!
Lately, I've been struggling (as previously indicated) with being out of touch with the Earth. Living in a tiny one-bedroom in an apartment building with no porches or even natural sources of light, it is virtually impossible to try and garden, and between trying to find a place where our one plant can find both light and be out of reach of Goose, who loves to eat any plant life, I just don't know how else to get a connection. Even in the area, guerrilla gardening would be difficult, since there is barely any green space in the area - too much city and not enough nature in my opinion. Add in time constraints, no green thumbs to speak of, and especially enduring a harsh winter....The sooner Jenn and I can move, the happier I will be. I want access to a porch where I can set up an herbal garden, that faces East so the natural light will keep it alive in the winter. *sigh*...dreams.
Big controversy in Madison over the 911 center. Back in April a young woman was killed. She called 911 but the dispatcher didn't hear anything, and the call automatically disconnected, and a new call came in immediately. The center itself is understaffed and the dispatcher, a friend of the family, was already feeling burnt about it. This tragedy has caused quite a stir, and our friend is devastated. Tonight on CNN, Nancy Grace aired a segment on the incident and was, by far from kind or understanding towards either the police or the 911 center. From a legal perspective, I know that there was no negligence on either the dispatcher's part or the police, though perhaps the 911 center itself. But even so, it was a little devastating to watch national TV dissect this experience in the name of journalism and try to blame everyone but the perpetrator. I also realize my personal bias here, but it's one thing to have it be dealt with on a local level then to see it on the national news being spun in such a way as to lead people to jump to conclusions without all the facts (and I assure you, the media does not, and are not privy to certain facts). Pissed me off. Not that I am surprised. I am just once again disappointed with mainstream media but on a much, much more personal level.
Let's see what else I can ramble on about...ah yes. My cumulative debt, dreams of living abroad, "indecisions" about my path in life...and I am not even close to being halfway through. Sometimes I think I should have just become a teacher. Other times I think about getting my PhD in Women's Studies focusing on feminist jurisprudence or sex work (specifically transgender sex workers and the impact of legalization/criminalization of sex work and its impact), and still other times I sway back and forth between public interest/human rights lawyering or private estate/family law GLBT oriented lawyering. Jenn and I want to live abroad more than anything but all signs point to places like NY, DC, San Francisco or LA. Places I want to live? No. But are the jobs I want there? Yep. But, one of the benefits of earning a dual degree is you have more time to figure out what the hell you are doing....
And on an end note...a few weeks ago, my mom was vacuuming and her uterus basically fell out. She's having surgery on the 29th to have a hysterectomy and to put her liver back in its rightful place...I think I am more nervous about it than my mom is, so I am planning on being in Madison from the 28th-4thm since I am spending the holiday season with Jenn, her family, and our friends. My 2nd holiday sans my family - last time 8 years ago when I was in Germany. It'll be weird...especially because Jenn's family celebrates with chili. I don't like chili. We might just bring a tofurkey - 'cause it is vegalicious! Anyway, I am rambling 'cause I am on sedatives but resisting bedtime. Best up and go to sleep. Tomorrow (or today actually) is massive cleaning and cleansing day!