Until something worthwhile starts happening in English class, I’ve
taken to re-reading my Latin homework during the lecture. This is both
a good thing and a bad thing since I’m being so studious in Latin but
not so much in English. It’s disappointing though to be in a class for
a subject that I love so much, but not to have any worthwhile
discussion or even insight from the professor. All he does is read from
the notes that he puts up on the projector! What a loss… Wednesday is
the last lecture with Sundahl, though, so perhaps the next professor
will shake things up a bit. Class with Willson is as usual–good
stories, semi-good notes…..fairly good doodles. Not that I’m
complaining, but so far I just haven’t had much to account for in these
classes. The only regular homework that I have is to translate Latin
and (having read Cicero before) that is not much of a burden. I do have
a CCA paper due this Friday, however, as well as my first English
seminar paper due next Tuesday (rough draft on Friday). That should
bring a little bit of excitement into my homework hour–which till now
has been fairly non-existant. Again, not complaining. I’ve enjoyed the
whole college thing so far and I intend for it to get better, not
worse, once the academics pick up.
      Speaking of pick-up, the fraternities were running wild yesterday
afternoon with their pick-up stuff. Every 15 minutes there was
incessant shouting (often of males, sometimes a few females shrieks)
and honking of horns….I ran outside once or twice to catch some of
the action, but, being at the end of a very long hall in Olds, I
usually only caught the tail end of the parade. It heightened all the
more the anticipation for joining a sorority next semester. I realize
that pick-up for sororities is not half as exciting as it if for
fraternities (or maybe just in a different way), but I am still excited
to get involved in the whole Greek system. Odd that I should feel that
way, now, because to begin with I felt unsure about joining a sorority
simply because I felt that it would be somewhat claustrophobic to my
“social life.” Who was I kidding? Being a member of a sorority would,
if anything, increase my chance of making friends! So far I haven’t
made any spectactular jumps in popularity and at this point Karen and I
are feeling a little desperate. It just takes time, though—I
certainly realize that. I’m really enjoying getting to know the girls
in my dorm and especially in my Bible study. They are all solid
Christian girls and I am blessed to be in such a good group of people!
      Though Karen and I are still working on making friends with members of
the opposite sex……whatever happened to chivalry? (this is our daily
cry of mourning…) We’ve decided that because of the idiocy of the
women’s movement, men have become weak, blubbering fools when it comes to gentlemanship.
This is not necessarily true in other areas of life, but when it comes
to chivalry and simply treating a girl as she ought to be treated, boys
are clueless! We’ve vowed that when/if we have sons of our own, they
will certainly not be ignorant of their duties to women!

Check out pictures from the Sigma Alpha Iota Charity Ball!!   Click HERE   

Cloudy outside today but the campus is aflurry (good word, eh?) with
activity! The Relay for Life is going on up the hill and I’ve just come
back from lunch (rife with junk food, mind you). Those are two
completely unrelated thoughts, but for some reason they were put in the
same sentence. Shows you how much I’m learning in my writing seminar,
right? I was trying to work on my
English paper earlier, but I’ve had trouble coming up with a thesis
that is plausible for making a 2-3 page paper. I was also somewhat
distracted by a fairly intense conversation with a friend concerning
the nature of God and the free will of humanity…..it began with
something to do with my paper, but now I can’t even recall what it was
that I said that incited the conversation. Ah well, it was an
interesting conversation nonetheless. I’m very excited about the SAI
Charity Ball tonight. We’re (me and ReRe) getting together a bunch of
girls to come get ready in our room–you know primp and beautify
ourselves (haha)–before we all go over to Howard together. Should be
good times. Of course, Karen’s not even here right now. She left me to
go hang out with her other friends at home…..left me all by my
lonesome. S’ok though, I know she’s having
bunches of fun. Like we’ll have tonight! Woo!  I think I’m going
to watch a movie or something now…or maybe homework…or whatever
suits my fancy! Ahhh….college life is so good.

I was sick yesterday….I’m still sick today but it was worst
yesterday. I think I had a bit of a fever and ( whether it was a
combination of the fever and the medicine I was taking or just a random
side effect of having a cold, I don’t know) I became somewhat delirious
as the day wore on. So, that was fun…except not really. But today is
Friday! So that’s something to cheer about. The SAI Charity Ball is
tomorrow night and I’m very excited about that, even though I don’t
have a date/escort. But I am sad that Karen is leaving today to go home
for the night. She’ll be back for the ball, but she’ll be gone for a
whole night! A Friday night, no less. Oh well…..guess I’ll have to
make my own fun. Last weekend was such a blast, though, I don’t think
anything I do this weekend (or any other weekend for that matter) will
compare! That’s okay, though, cause the memories are still good to
think about. It’s been a really good week and, at this point in time, I
have very little to worry about. Except maybe the Latin quiz that I
have later today. But even that I feel pretty  much prepared for.
So I’m just chillin in my room now, listening to Muse….again.
I think I listened to Absolution about 5 times (consecutively) the
other day. It’s got such a good feel overall….you can listen to the
CD several times in a row and not get bored. Kinda like KEANE! And the
randomness continues to abound….

What a beautiful day! The weather is just gorgeous this week and I
can’t believe that it is Wednesday already. And it’s also the first day
of Autumn….wow. Still reveling in the memories of Sunday night’s
excellent concert. Dwelling upon the fact that I met Tom Chaplin and
was able to see Keane live just makes me kinda goofy (in a very happy
way). Although I have a bit of a sore
throat, it’s not bothering me too much except that I can’t talk without
clearing my throat like mad. Oh well….I’m sure nobody minds hearing
less from me. It’s days like this, though, that make me grateful just
to be alive and healthy and privileged to attend a college where God is
acknowledged and worshiped by at least 50% of the students attending.
After Lovett, I am just so thankful for such a Christian campus! It may
seem oppressive and restrictive to some, but to me it is truly a
blessing to be able to share constant fellowship with other Christians.
At Lovett, I felt like I was constantly struggling against the liberal
view of Christianity that makes fundamentalist believers out to be
hateful, intolerant people. Here at Hillsdale it’s just the opposite,
thank God.

Galations 2:20 – “I have been
crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives
in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in
the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

Cosmopolis

orion rising on boon-dock roads<>
a straight-shot east from glowing skies
where street lamps brighten brick, stone,
and the heavy hand of a polis gone.
sleep beneath the sheerest drop
of heaven’s nightly after-glow,
the earthly still and muted chill
are more than most can stand.
the polis gone, but Cosmos, here—
enfolds when falser lights go out
with now a gentler Hand outstretched
above orion’s studded belt.
and then, in this deep starless night
at crossroads in the ribbon way
some soft Grace upholds the poles—
and i have left the rest behind.

and now check out Homecoming pictures!!  HERE

Sore throat…I think I’m getting sick. Still feeling okay though.
Nothing particularly exciting today except maybe the IM football games.
They were fun to watch although I really have very little idea what is
going on. I can’t even count how many times guys have tried to explain
football to me. I still enjoy watching it, but I don’t really have a
concept of the details of the game. Oh well, after that Karen and I
went to dinner at the SAI (Sigma Alpha Iota – Women’s Music Fraternity)
house. That was fun cause I got to see Giles and Hannah and talk to
some other SAI girls. Then we came back here and pretty much
crashed….and did homework. Although that undertaking was not so
successful….I took some medicine and it’s really kicking me in the
butt right now, I can’t really make cohesive thoughts–especially when
trying to translate Latin. I did make some Ramen broth though–good
stuff for sore throats. So I’ll probably be going to bed now….maybe.
Alrighty then. Oh, I also registered to vote. Go Bush…..I guess.

KEANE ROCKS MY SOCKS OFF!!!!!!!

Yeah…..the show was completely awesome. Chicago is great but it’s
even better when Keane is there. The opener, The French Kicks, was
pretty good but man when Keane came on stage I was screaming
like……..well like my favorite band just came on stage. And yes, Tom
Chaplin is even hotter in person….and his voice is
just that good. They even played On a Day Like Today which was
incredible. We were pretty close to the stage so I was taking pictures
and movies like crazy. There are some pics here.
I’m definitely gonna have to see them again on concert…sometime. Wow.
I’m still in a daze…. that’s how surreal it was. Cause I’d been
looking forward to that show for so long and then when we finally got
there I was practically twitching with excitement. And I was definitely
not disappointed. And I even got to meet them afterwards at the signing
table. I was stuttering like mad…….keep that picture in your
head……tryin to say how much  I loved their music without
acting like a fool. They’re all pretty down to earth guys though. Tom
was so dynamic…dancing all over the stage and really great with the
crowd. Such a great guy…I’m envious of his girlfriend. Tim and
Richard were really nice, too, more talkative than Tom at the signing
table. So yeah, that was the coolest thing ever. THANKS FINN! I’m gonna
owe him for a long time for taking me. Oh and if anybody gets the
chance, check out www.keanemusic.com!