Politique vs. Politik

I woke up early, took the dog for long walk, read through four Shakespeare plays (If you're an English major, you can understand the depth of that task.) and read through notes; took a long hot bath (cliche, I know), read for pleasure and was all ready to get a good nights rest before my final at 8 am- and what happened? I couldn't sleep. So here I am. (Typical of me; I seem to suffer from a slight case of insomnia.) I am not nervous in any sense, but seem to have throughts buried deep below the surface that want to submerge. Ahh, yes thoughts...those shall be the culpurit for the night...

My work (holiday) formal was fun. I went with another co-worker and before hand attended the Mad-Wis hockey game, and post-formal went to an after-party. My co-worker and date for the night and I drank beers and had a generally good time. At the after-party, I rode a keg horse (this keg cut in half and suspended 10 feet in the air with chains) it was a blast. It was one of those "college" moments you'll chose "to" or "not to" tell your kids someday. Pertaining to work, the finals addition turned out brilliant. I had two stories; one in particular focusing on unions- which if read, I hope they got a kick out of. Next semester I am moving from the education desk to the environment desk. It will be a big change being that I spent the last four months building clientel, trust, and semi-relationships to the point where my sources come to me for news... But as I have realized, whatever beat I am on I learn to love it, get inside the issues, the people, the places and become enthusiastic, maybe even passionate.

Winter has turned out to be beautiful and enjoyable in a aesthenic sense. Haven't made a snow angel yet, but I promised myself as soon as I walk out of my last 8 pm final I am jumping into the snow and making a series of them! I went to church last Sunday and it felt good to go. A.S. and I woke up early for coffee and muffins and attended the service. I can't help to interpret a lot of the preaching as bull shit to speak frankly, and slightly uncomfortable with the idea of religion and comformity, but nonetheless, I walked out feeling good. A small octet of violins, cellos and violas played, and I closed my eyes the entire time just listening and taking it all in one note at a time. While they were playing I found myself fingering the notes on my arm in a vibrato fashion... Maybe it was just fun being able to get dolled up; pencil skirt, cream sweater with small black bow, black gloves (very Jackie O)...an older lady sitting next to me commented on my black sequenced Franc Sarto shoes. :)

The other night after studying for finals A.S. and I went to get a late night bite to eat. We somehow in between bites of eggs and pancakes, fell into a conversation regarding race, politics, and social/economic issues. Being from extremely different upbringings and political philosophies the conversation became a little heated... I find myself interested in hearing his view points, ( I love listening to him explain to me things I do not know, like aviation and military weapons) and yet simultaneously wanted to interrupt and controllably-rage a little. I get slightly fueled when his perspectives align with the prejudices and close-mindedness I have attributed him with. But, he always listens to me; which in itself is an accomplishment worth merit considering his firmness with his philosophies. I like to think that I add to his pre-existing notions and views- never change them though- there is a significant difference. At one point I wanted to pour my soup in his lap and yell "Hello, remember the Nazi era?!), but refrained and debated in a semi-parlimentary procedure and remained calm. We threw back and forth numbers, statistics, casualties, scientific theories (me), and articles (him), and nevertheless, paid our tab and walked out of Perkins holding hands...