On Work Ethics

If I didn't have papers to write, I would never get anything else done. :-) Fortunately, the prudent professors at Baylor are more than happy to see to it that my productivity levels in all other areas of my life remain high by assigning plenty of these. Right now I am *working* on my term paper for History of Modern European Philosophy class. And also updating, to let y'all know what's "new and exciting in my life" as Sara always demands.

There isn't much going on in my life besides school, really. When I'm not in class or doing homework, I help other people with their homework as a part-time job or teach at Sylvan Learning Center.

That can't be true. Dad came up to visit last weekend to see the Baylor vs. A&M game. I didn't go to the game, but I had lunch with him and Brian and David. It's kind of a shame that I didn't go to the game, though, because this is the first time we have won against the aggies since I started at Baylor, and the last time we will play them before I graduate. I stayed at the dorm because I was going to work on my thesis, although really all I did was sleep all afternoon because I was starting to get sick.

And...before that, Sam had a friend come to town so we made dinner and went to see Quantum of Solace. Boys are good people, they really are, but I don't think I will every learn to properly enjoy action movies. I didn't hate it, but it was probably kind of wasted on me. After the movie we had to go out and celebrate because Sam's roommate got into med school. It's really nice to know people who are achieving things, so that you have an excuse to celebrate while you're still waiting on your own achievements to materialize.

And...after that, Sam and I taught Sunday school at church. It is suprising how intimidating a group of small children can be if you realize you're supposed to teach them something. But it was a lot of fun and I think it went as well as could be expected. Then we went to lunch at someone's house with a big group of people, because the church was doing a meal-in-peoples'-homes thing. It's a nice tradition, really. I love the South.

We're reading Nietzche now in Existentialism. My Intro to Philosophy course ended with Nietzche, and my History of Modern European Philosophy course seems like it's going to end with Nietzche. It's kind of strange, especially at a place like Baylor, that we seem to let him have the final word so often. But I think probably it's really good to end with Nietzche, because it's hard to forget him, so I suppose it makes it impossible to stop thinking about philosophy entirely, even after you take the final. I think he's probably one of my favorite atheists.

It's strange to imagine that a week from today it will already be Thanksgiving Break and Sam and I will be driving to New Mexico for part I of the holiday. It's even stranger to be grown-up enough to have Thanksgiving in parts. And 30 days from now, the entire semester will be over: all the papers written, (hopefully) revised, and turned in; the exams studied for and taken, the applications (again, hopefully) completed, the degree audit with that "magic sentence" turned in.

It's good to remember that once in a while. My goal for the rest of the semester is no longer to make good grades but just to get all the work done. With that said, I should probably get back to it.

Oh, it is love. . . and November!

History repeats itself. I am now supposed to be writing another 9-10 page paper for my Augustine class, and finding sweet procrastination in you, O blog.
This month is going to be ridiculously busy, and ridiculously wonderful. I have grad school applications, personal statement to write, about 5 (?) 10-page papers, my 2nd thesis chapter to write and 1st chapter to make longer and prettier, THANKSGIVING in about 4 places (Clovis, Ft. Sumner, Waco, Victoria - yup, 4), as well as the work for my Greek honors contract due and of course, lovely exams, hundreds of lines of Virgil to translate, reading till my eyes start to cross...and probably dozens of my favorite people to spend time with. :-)
Disturbing story time! A little kid at the Halloween party that our church put on was dressed up as a member of the KKK!!! He came up to pick out some ducks from the little wading pool and get some candy and I think I said something like "awww, what a cute little ghost - oh, wait!" It was definitely scary.
The good news to cheer you up at the beginning of this month:

1. As of Tuesday, the election will be over, and hopefully after a few weeks people will stop being ridiculous about it! Hurray!

2. THANKSGIVING is only about three weeks away!

3. Thanks to our sad lil' economy, gas prices have plummeted.

4. It's beginning to look like a lot like autumn, and coffee houses everywhere are turning out warm and cozy flavors!

5. Apparently, I'm a huge slacker, and this usually makes people feel better about themselves. So be comforted, over-achievers! There are achievers everywhere who look up to you without the slightest bit of envy. ;-)