For those of you who don’t know, I will not be going to Europe this May. Yes, I am a little sad about this. When Steph and I were originally planning on going, I was so excited and when she had to cancel on her end, I couldn’t quite let go of the trip. I tried imagining other scenarios, but in the end nothing seemed right. I didn’t want to go to Europe by myself, especially not for the first time! I finally admitted defeat and told my mom yesterday. Today she called me to say that…surprise, she was thinking that we should go NEXT summer (we being my immediate family, mom, dad, Sar, and me!). This is a far better plan than I could have come up with and if I ever thought in a million years that I could actually convince my mom to go, I would have suggested it long ago. Now, though, the timing is really “right.” Sarah will have just graduated from college and my parents won’t be paying for any more schooling. Yippee!!! I’m so excited. Yes it isn’t for another 16ish months, but I don’t care. I get to go to Europe with my family, people who will get excited over silly things! (hmmm, who does that? Nope, not me, no way, for sure not me!)

Sar and me at Red Rocks

My parents in their kitchen

Posted by Dana at 5:40 PM | Permalink | Comments

Two blog postings in one day isn’t really like me, but the last one was a little “serious/academic,” plus the weather outside is a little…mmm…scary. I’m supposed to be doing work on campus, but snow is coming down hard (and before that it rained all day, which then froze. Yesterday it even managed to hail a little…so now the ground is covered with little hail balls, a layer of ice, and fluffy snow). All I want to do is stay inside and watch movies and eat cinnamon rolls (fortunately I have new movies from Netflix and cinnamon rolls from dinner last night!). I also have a comfy couch and a fuzzy faux fur blanket. Oh, yeah, and a cold. My cold is better, I think. I haven’t taken anything for it (because I’m stubborn and also don’t want to get in my car). It’s warm in my apartment and I feel cozy and happy. The only thing that might make it better could be a cat. I miss having a cat. I miss Smaug. I miss Tybalt. I miss Oscar. These have been the only cats that have felt partly mine. Smaug is Rob’s cat and I guess there aren’t really visitation rights for that kind of thing. Tybalt was Carrie’s cat and he lived with us for two years in Boulder; he went missing when she moved to Golden. Oscar was my cat; my parents bought him for me when I was about 10 and he died at their house about a month after I moved to Iowa. I’ve never really had my own cat.

Posted by Dana at 4:15 PM | Permalink | Comments

For years we liberal arts majors have been persecuted for our “soft” decision to enter into our humanities fields. Why do the humanities matter, in the long run? If you’re an English major, or perhaps an art or art history major, this query is nothing new to you. It often becomes wearying, having to defend your field of study. In fact, I often got to the point, as an undergraduate, where I dreaded the horrid question, “What are you studying in school?” My mind would race through my options: If I say English, I’ll inevitably be condescended to: “Oh, English. Hmm, what are you going to do with that?”; or labeled: “Oh, so do you want to teach?” because that’s all that and English degree is good for, really. Or should I say practically? And forget about saying creative writing. I usually just told a white lie and skipped over the creative part. Because, truthfully, I don’t know what I want to do with this degree, but I like thinking about the world. If I come up with a humorous avoidance technique (things such as “I’m just looking for a way to graduate” or “you mean you can’t be a professional student?” were common), I could sidestep some of the awkwardness, but there would always be that nagging sensation that I would KNOW what my accuser was going to ask. Now, don’t misunderstand me. Not all people judge or label humanities majors; my parents, in fact, were always quite supportive about all my major life decisions. It’s just that as an English major, I became jaded to the way I was viewed by the world.

Where do we liberal artists fit in the modern world? As I was reading Richard Lanham for my class, I came across something interesting:
“Economics, as we all remember from Introduction to Economics, studies the allocation of scarce resources….So, we live in an ‘information economy.’ But information is not in short supply in the new information economy. We’re drowning in it. What we lack is the human attention needed to make sense of it all….The devices that regulate attention are stylistic devices. Attracting attention is what style is all about.”

This really got me thinking. For years, I’ve been trained to know what I was doing was valuable, but to still be treated by most as peripheral. Maybe we really are living in an economy governed by attention (just think about how many things are vying for your attention these days; it seems as though our focus is becoming more and more split every day). In the old “economy of stuff” science and economics were king (and they still believe they are). Lanham is arguing, however, that we, the liberal artists, those of “arts and letters” are the mediators of attention. “The arts and letters now stand at the center. They are the disciplines that study how attention is allocated, how cultural capital is created and traded. When our children come home and tell us that they have decided to major in English or art history, no longer need we tremble for their economic future.”

My point: knowing how attention works makes you invaluable. Don’t despair or be ashamed.

Posted by Dana at 3:43 PM | Permalink | Comments

Saying goodbye to the weekend is never easy. I thought this weekend was going to be fairly relaxed; not quite as I expected. On Friday I had a meeting with my client for my creative component. I expected I would be doing some work on Friday and Monday, but nothing in between. See, this weekend a good friend of mine came to visit (Peter, who lives in Illinois and is also an ex-boyfriend) and I worked all week to make sure I wouldn’t have to do too much work while he was here. So, I had my meeting on Friday and my client wanted me to change the design of my documents (not completely, but enough for me to have a lot of weekend word to do), and he wanted to see these changes by Monday morning (taking away an entire day of work). Needless to say, I had to change my weekend plans and spent a little less time with Peter and more time with my computer. However I think he had fun while he was here and he’s a champion at entertaining himself.

On Saturday we went to King Buffet. My first time in a long time (Rob and I used to go there a lot) and I felt like I was finally okay with going back. We also went to go see Music and Lyrics, which was…mediocre. This seems a little strange for a self-proclaimed romantic to be saying, but something just didn’t feel right about the movie; maybe I’ve become more of a realist (somehow I doubt it). We also included a trip to Hickory Park while he was here; I’ll admit I almost forgot about HP, but a friend reminded me that no trip to Ames is complete without a visit to ye ole Park.

It’s quite beautiful out today (somewhat sunny and above 40 degrees!). Something tells me today is the day I should clean my car. Not only is it disgusting on the outside (covered with an assortment of dirt, salt from the snowmelt, and these brown seed things that are from a tree in my parking lot), the inside needs a little TLC. About a month ago I was getting a couple smoothies (Steph needed a pick-me-up) and I don’t have two cup holders in the front of my car. One is in the front and the other is between the two back seats. The front one likes to tip over (the first time I discovered this I had a 44 oz Big Gulp “thing” from Kum and Go, which then managed to spill all over my lap), so I decided I must put the first smoothie in the back seat. Juggling two smoothies while leaning into the back seat of a coupe isn’t easy and for a klutz like me it’s even harder. The Raspberry Red ended up on the floor, spilling half it’s contents onto my Cougar’s carpet. Frick! Since that day, it hasn’t been above freezing in Ames long enough for me to clean up the mess. So, today is clean up the smoothie day. I should also mention that this isn’t the first time I’ve spilled smoothie on the inside of my car. Once when I was working at Linens-N-Things I stopped by Jamba Juice (mmm, how I miss the Jamba) on my way there to smoothie my way out of a hangover. When I got to work I placed the smoothie on the top of my car, where it did NOT stay. It tipped precariously and then fell back toward me, splashing me, the car, the seat, the carpet with Strawberry Tsunami. Double frick.

Posted by Dana at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments

Now floating up and down
I spin, colliding into sound
Like whales beneath me diving down
I'm sinking to the bottom of my
Everything that freaks me out
The lighthouse beam has just run out
I'm cold as cold as cold can be

Where is the coastguard
I keep looking each direction
For a spotlight, give me something
I need something for protection
Maybe flotsam junk will do just fine
the jetsam sunk, I'm left behind
I'm treading for my life believe me
(How can I keep up this breathing)

Not knowing how to think
I scream aloud, begin to sink
My legs and arms are broken down
With envy for the solid ground
I'm reaching for the life within me
How can one man stop his ending
I thought of just your face
Relaxed, and floated into space

I want to swim away but don't know how
Sometimes it feels just like I'm falling in the ocean
Let the waves up take me down
Let the hurricane set in motion...
Let the rain of what I feel right now...come down
Let the rain come down

Not a very happy song, but it’s been that kind of day. I decided to pick up an extra shift (after Betsey asked) at one of the clubhouses because the girl that regularly works there wanted to spend V-Day with her boyfriend. So, I had to pick the key up in Downtown and no one was in the office, so I had to try and remember where the clubhouse was (somewhere in Waukee) and of course mis-remembered. After a paniced phone call to Bets, and some nervous waiting, I got a call back with directions; I’d been a little off the whole time and would probably not have found it on my own. All told, I spent about 2 hours in the car when it should have been about 50 minutes.

So now, instead of going home, I’m going out to dinner with Betsey and George. I was invited and a part of me feels bad for crashing on their V-day, but not that bad. I’m tired and cranky and I could do to hang out with two of the most amusing people I know; plus at least I get to spend Valentines day with someone I love (even if it is a cousin).

Posted by Dana at 6:01 PM | Permalink | Comments

That’s what Kate’s calling this day, and I have to admit I like it. I can’t help but feeling a little lonely today. I very rarely remember what I’ve done on past Valentines Days (my most memorable is from my Freshman year in college when a whole bunch of singles from my floor went out for Mongolian BBQ), so it seems that the day hasn’t held much weight in the past. I know that this may sound like a bitter singles tirade, so you can just skip it. I don’t really need to shout from the rooftops with glee that I’m single. I’m not overbrimming with joy. I’m not overly bitter about being single either.

However, I really don’t remember Valentines Days from past relationships. Why? Who knows. I do know that people in relationships usually don’t need to be reminded that they’re happy, or to celebrate their happiness. Or do they? I see two sides to this holiday. One, it’s a day that makes couples remember that they’re in love and celebrate being together (in the non commercialist sense) and two it’s a day that reminds single people that we celebrate couples. Yep, I do sound bitter. I don’t have a conclusion here. And yes, I do feel lonely today.

Posted by Dana at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Comments

It’s back on, baby! That’s right, I’m going to Colorado this weekend! After some see-sawing back and forth about whether or not I should drive it, I decided to look on Orbitz (I mean, what are the odds that there’s be a cheep ticket on there a couple days before the weekend?). After trying a couple of combinations, I found a round trip non-stop flight for only a couple-hundred bucks! Yay, I get a nice break this weekend, and I’m not leaving til Saturday so I’ll still get do homework Friday and Saturday (I’m not usually giddy about that fact, but who wouldn’t look forward to 2.5 days of freedom in the middle of a crazy month?). Well, I am! I’ve already paid for the tickets, so I’m really coming!

Posted by Dana at 6:26 PM | Permalink | Comments

Alright, I’m from a fairly chilly state and they’ve been having a hard time of it this winter (unbelievable amounts of snow), but still every year I get to this part of winter and feel really…miserable. Is it over? Are we there yet? The there, of course, being spring and warm weather. I’m not asking for much. At this point I’d take 40 degrees. I would like to reject this streak of negative degree wind chill that’s been happening for the past week, weeks, I don’t know, it seems an interminable amount of time. I am of course complaining about the weather because I don’t have much else to talk about. My life is less interesting now more than ever. I’m excited about graduation, going to Europe (if that actually ends up happening), and…I’m not sure what else. I think I’m excited about moving back to Colorado, it’s just that every time I think about leaving Colorado, it feels like there’s something I’m forgetting.

I’ve been working out a lot. I find it’s a great way to procrastinate my homework and it fits in well with my New Years resolution to do things that are “good for me.” I need to remember that mantra. For example, procrastinating my homework this afternoon by watching T.V. probably wouldn’t be “good for me,” but sounds sinfully fun.

Posted by Dana at 9:31 AM | Permalink | Comments

So after all my excitement about going to Colorado next weekend, which I’d planned on doing (especially since Kerry and Ant’s co-birthday party was going on), I’ve now decided not to go. I was so excited, but you just shouldn’t feel anxiety about something like that (and that’s exactly what I was feeling). I realized that I just can’t give up an entire weekend (four days actually) and not work on my creative component. It’s coming along, but slowly and I couldn’t stand the pressure that made the whole process feel very rushed. Add in a dose of sound advice, and I realized that the trip wasn’t a good idea. I’ll just have to wait to see everyone. Sorry all :(

Okay, back to the grindstone…gar!

Posted by Dana at 12:18 PM | Permalink | Comments

Holy Harry Potter folks! The release date for the seventh book has finally been announced. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out July 21, 2007. I know, I know, it isn’t the 07/07/07 we were all hoping for, but meh! Small potatoes to the fact that the book is actually coming out :)

Okay, I have to run, that’s about all I have time for, except HELLLS YEAH! I take my Harry Potter very seriously. Oh, and Sarey, there’s a good chance that I’ll be back in the ‘rado by then, so we should mayhaps get around to preordering. It wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t go get the book together.

Posted by Dana at 3:18 PM | Permalink | Comments