Sojourness's Thoughts on Life

*In times of stress, it is good to step back and take a minute to breathe. I never do this but I just did a minute ago and it helped.

*I need to buy me some markers.

*Artsy Friend is coming over after work to teach me to knit. Now I can be a legitimate part of the feminist movement. (No... really.)

*My strong desire to go to graduate school is being slowly eroded by the terrible bureacracy in trying to get my damn Bachelor's already.

*Hot chocolate really is better than coffee.

*Writing takes more energy than most people realize.

Happy Monday

Today we enter the Goddess Birth Sign of Venus. She teaches us about love in all its form: self-love, love for others, and love for mother earth and all her creatures.

SUGGESTED MANTRA: SELF-LOVE
The Roman goddess born of heaven and sea, revered for her gifts of fertility, sensuality and above all, love.

I walk in beauty

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Every time I see students coming from class (I live on a college campus), I get jealous. Every time I hear about someone's experiences in their lit classes or women's studies classes, I nearly freak.

I've always felt a strong tie with academia. Ever since I started college I was in love. Nowadays, college is the afterthought. My lit classes are more of a nuisance at night when I'm tired from work than something I enjoy. I don't have classmates and great discussions and professors to give me feedback on my papers, and God, I miss it!

I work in the marketing world but it's not my passion. Publishing gets closer - writing, editing, especially about issues that matter to me. But I have always walked around saying, "I'm going to be a professor, I'm going to get my Ph.D., I'm going to be an academic rockstar," and I totally forgot about it in the past year or so.

I am very close to finishing my B.A. and I really need to think about grad school because it's important to me. Like, really important.

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So I need costume ideas for Halloween. Last year everyone dressed up at the office and we had a party - there was William Wallace in a kilt with blue and white paint on his face, a whoopee cushion, a pirate... you get the idea. I want to do something fun but something I can design myself (and not pay for a costume, if I can help it). Suggestions? :)

Great weekend folks. Yesterday Boyfriend and I went to a coffee house on the lake to meet up with some members of my book club. You see, I decided to attempt a revival, so I sent out a new call for members. Book Club Friend is willing to come back, which is great, and some new people expressed interest, so we decided to meet yesterday to get to know one another and choose a first book. Two people came - a guy and a girl - and we decided on a book and that was that.

Today Boyfriend and I went to the local arcade so I could play Dance Dance Revolution. I have only played it once in my life - six years ago, in high school, at a party - but I have always had fond memories. Amazing exercise, folks. After five minutes, you are DRIPPING with sweat. Thinking if I go and spend 50 cents a day after work, I can be skinny in about two weeks. (Hee!)

Meditation is going well, though I have trouble with the breathing one ("Gauranga"). I wind up out of breath. I don't know if I am doing it wrong or just not used to it. I am planning to go to class early on Wednesday to ask the instructor questions. I am also looking to learn how to pray the rosary. Ideally I would like to do both each day, maybe rosary in the morning and meditation in the evening, or whatever.

Oh yeah, and I want to switch my mantra to saying the names of goddesses instead of gods. Looking into it.

Last night and this morning I watched the Royal Shakespeare Company movie version of A Midsummer Night's Dream. I loved reading the play and wanted to watch the movie version, and I thought I had reserved the Calista Flockhart/Christian Bale/Kevin Kline version, but I was wrong. I don't care, though... this version was experimental and weird and colorful and absolutely fantastic. I would like to see their other productions as well.

Bored with the Bard

Well, not yet. But I soon will be. In nine weeks I have to read the following nine plays:

A Midsummer Night's Dream
Richard II
Part 1 Henry IV
Henry V
Twelfth Night
Othello
King Lear
Antony and Cleopatra
A Winter's Tale

If any of you book-lovers or Shakespeare-lovers out there are interested in reading with me, shoot me a comment or email. You don't have to read all nine, but if you've always wanted to read Othello, read it the week I do and we can discuss! Come on, it will be fun!