Concept is out. My fiction editor Rebecca said it was like having a baby and I completely agree. We are so very proud of it, I honestly think it's the best one to come out in a while and I'm not just saying that because I did it. Now the search for the new editor is underway and I'm happy to pass the torch. There are a lot of things I wish I'd done better on, but I just have to cut myself some slack and remember that next year's issue is going to be even better since the editor will actually have some experience with the journal.

The Hub-Bub College Street Team has had two magnificent events. The first was swing dancing at the Hub-Bub Showroom. That was April 30th but I forgot to mention it last time. It was a swing lesson followed by a freeform dance, like they do at the Handlebar on Tuesday nights. There were college kids, older folks, a family with a toddler, and several seasoned swingers, some all the way from Clemson. Oh, and some dudes from Norway. We all had a blast, and we're talking about making it a monthly thing in Spartanburg. Paul Hoke is awesome.

Then this past Saturday was the jam at Morgan Square. A bunch of musicians got together, mostly college students, and made music. There were a ton of people walking by who were like "what the heck is that?" We had so much fun. The Bards played some Irish stuff, this awesome girl named Kerry played some stuff she'd written, and we also just kind of started a chord progression and everyone joined in. If you didn't consider yourself a musician, we'd hand you a pair of maracas or finger symbols or something. There were these two adorable little boys who came with their parents and wanted to play every single one of our instruments. It was especially cute when they got on the harmonicas while we were playing a boogie.

I met some great people who were really excited and committed to making it a regular event, so it looks like we'll be having another one on May 24. It's so exciting to be at the start of things like this. Kind of scary, though, when I've suddenly become the point man for something much bigger than myself.

Speaking of starting things, I wanted to tell you about this new program that Converse and Wofford are doing. It's called SPARK! and it's basically a 5-week summer residency for creative students to get together and dream big. The first week they conduct research and brainstorm, then they start hatching a plan for some kind of big project that will improve some aspect of Spartanburg life/development. It ends with a presentation of a polished proposal to the powers that be, and if it's well received, the students will be given the resources to execute their plan in the fall as well as a $1000 scholarship each. 

Yeah, it all sounds vague, but that's because it hasn't been done before. Sometimes you just have to take those first few steps into the complete unknown. This is such an exciting thing for Spartanburg, and for Converse. It'll introduce students to all the resources available to them, and help them develop new ways of thinking and planning that will have an irreplaceable impact on their approach to life and work. I am so there.

Life after Converse is coming at me fast. I still have a paper to write and a graphic design project, which are both, as far as schoolwork goes, relatively fun projects, but it's hard to get a grip on them. They're already fading into a past life...the life of academics & school & grades...it's so weird, that's been my life for so very, very long. I'm graduating in 5 days.

Monday, I had a 7-page paper on the Beatles' album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. It was a ton of fun to write, but exhausting. Friday I had a major research project due in Music History that I was trying to squeeze time in between finishing my BFA senior thesis, which I turned in Wednesday. That was huge. That was my capstone project. 35 pages of the best poetry I could offer. It was surreal. I didn't feel like a poet, or a BFA candidate, or much of anything. At that point, I was so sleep-deprived, I just felt like a zombie.

After all that work, I felt like I deserved a mini-celebration. Stephanie and Gwen were out on the lawn blowing grass - making goofy noises, you know, and I brought my blanket out and joined them. We lay back and stared up at the sky between the leaves of the big tree in front of Dexter...such a pretty day...and then we went into the Barnett room for Mexican food and tie dyed T-shirts.

After class my friend Bryant called, we ended up going to Hatcher Garden, that's a beautiful little patch of woods maintained to offer Spartanburg residents a place to immerse in nature. Lots of flowers in bloom, and the foliage was so green...just gorgeous. I also like to go to the Cottonwood Trail on the Eastside...a lovely walk for a warm spring day, haven't been since last year though. Then we went to the mall, PetSmart, got rum-flavored ice cream at the Marble Slab, and then came back and watched Juno. I hadn't watched a movie in...how many weeks? Except for A Hard Day's Night, that was a load of fun but it was for class so it doesn't count.

It was just the little celebration I needed, but of course I had to pay for it with a late Music History project. Cause --> effect, and I don't really care anymore. It's senioritis and it's got me in its apathetic grip.

Thursday was Founder's Day. I love Founder's Day, we eat strawberries and cream, which was Dexter Edgar Converse's favorite snack. The keynote speaker was really awesome, a Converse alumna who has led a very interesting and creative life, she cycled across the US with a group of women, from coast to coast. And she also did this thing called Outward Bound, that's like a survival school, where you learn how to make it in the wilderness with nothing but a knife, a blanket, and a flint, or something like that. Way cool. She was talking about how you shouldn't just think of creativity in terms of the fine arts - how life itself is an art form, and I was like "yes! that's exactly right!"

Last night, I went with a bunch of friends to see Much Ado About Nothing at Wofford. I hadn't been to a show at Wofford. It was hilarious. The actors were just such hams, and it's one of Shakespeare's wittiest comedies to begin with. We had a blast.

So yeah it was a tough week, but I made a lot of good memories. That's what senior year is really about, for me. Every time I think about not coming back next year, and how this is the last time so many of my friends will be all together, it makes me want to drop all my school work and job search stuff and just spend every moment with my friends while we still can. But...I've got to pass my classes and I've got to pay my phone bill...so...back to work.

Nonetheless... Athens was fantastic. I did get some work done, but I'm afraid the exploratory spirit got the better of me.

I started out with $25 cash and $75 in the bank. I packed my poetry books, laptop, Bible, journals, clothes and necessities, iPod, and lots of snacks. My hostess, Joy, was so kind. I had a room to myself, wireless internet, free breakfast and dinner when I was around, a ride to campus around noon each day, a ride back each night, and someone to answer my many questions. Oh, and she let me borrow her camera, so I have pictures! Couldn't have asked for more.

Day 1: Rode the free University of Georgia bus.

UGA is HUGE! Picked up literature, map of campus, bus map, etc. at the student center. It was Meat Out 2008, which is a vegan/vegetarian education day that they basically made a party out of, so I was treated to free food, break dancing, and live music on the plaza of the student center. Great band. Some nice vegetarians helped me get my bearings. They introduced me to Flagpole, which is this free weekly newspaper – community, culture, politics, pretty much everything interesting. From it I learned about all the fun things that go on in Athens…way too much fun to be had, every single night of the week…I'm kind of glad I didn't go to UGA...I would never have been able to force myself to stay in and study!

In the afternoon, I called my friend Tiffany and she was having a Bible study with the Full-Timers (= men and women whose full-time job is serving the saints – they conduct Bible studies, pray with people, listen, give godly advice, etc) so I went to that, it was nice, and then Tiffany and I hung out and talked for a while.

That night I ended up at the Sisters’ House, which is, in my church, where some of the college girls live along with the full-time sisters. (There’s also a brothers’ house.) My friend Lauren lives there, she cooked me tilapia and spaghetti squash, and we talked and looked at some saints’ wedding pictures. Did you know that tree climbing is an “official” hobby? This couple loved to tree climb, in fact, they had this whole series of pre (or maybe post) – wedding pictures in a big tree. They use harnesses and gear like rock climbers. Who knew?

Day 2: I love downtown Athens. Musicians walking around with their instruments, stopping and playing, people just hanging out. They’re not all after some agenda. I mean there were plenty of suit-type people and college kids who were just trying to get from point A to point B, but some people were actually there to just be there.

Wish this pic weren't so blurry, took it while walking. There was a guy playing guitar and singing, sounded like rockabilly, he had talent. I stopped and listened for a while.

These guys were on opposite street corners, right across from the Arch, UGA's historical entrance. The street between them is what I'd call the heart of downtown. The People's Party, understandably, drew a big crowd, but the Victory guy got plenty of honks.

That night I ate dinner at a nice family's house with Joy, the full time sisters, and a cool chic named Gene. Joy's the one holding the baby in this picture.

Day 3: Gene had told me about the Hot Corner, a 24 hour vegan-friendly coffee shop where the creative types hang out. She thought I'd like it, and I did, a lot. I spent most of Wednesday there.

  Lunch was a sarsparilla and a chocolate muffin that I think had cornmeal in it. Different, but good. Met a nice guy named Travis who helped me find some wireless internet when Hot Corner's broke.

  There at that big table is Ethan. I took that picture before I met him. We spent an hour or so at the same table basically ignoring eachother, he was reading a novel and I was reading Gerard Manley Hopkins and Lucille Clifton. Turned out, it was his 19th birthday and we ended up having a good long conversation. We talked a lot about Athens and Spartanburg. Also Jack Keruac, life choices, backpacking in Europe...fun times.

I found out in Flagpole that Mandala, UGA's literary journal, was having their release party Wednesday night. What a lucky coincidence, here I am about to throw a release party for Concept! So I went. It was at Barcafe Cine which was a neat place, wish I'd took pictures. Several poets read their work from the journal, and Shawn Hill read as a special guest. I met a really sweet lady, Pam, a retired cop-cum-watercolor artist, who helped me get to this other event I found out about in Flagpole, Poetic Confessionz, like an open mic poetry thing.

Unfortunately, this is the best photo I have. That's the MC, Montu. Dreaded Mindz Family was the host. They've got a real vision for their community. I respect that.

Entry was half-price for performers, so I pulled up a poem on my laptop and read it. It died halfway through, that was embarrassing, but Montu let me try again a little while later, and everyone was really supportive. They liked my poem, I think, but it was way different from most of their stuff. They had...attitude. Some of them incorporated song. I hadn't heard much like it before, but it was cool.

At midnight, back at Joy's place, I realized I hadn't eaten since the sarsparilla and muffin, so I made some quesadillas with leftover chicken and bell peppers. Oh, how I miss a fully-stocked kitchen!

Day 4: Funny, I stayed out latest on Wednesday night and woke up the earliest Thursday morning. Read some Seamus Heaney while eating Velveeta and crackers in the student center. I'd heard, at the journal release, about a poetry event on Thursday. I got real lucky, again, it was the Cave Canem annual symposium, and I got to hear Shawn Hill (again) and Nikky Finney with some superb poetry and a Q&A session. Turns out, Nikky Finney is from Newberry, SC! She just finished a poetry comission from Wofford! Talk about small world.

At the reading I met a cool gal named Scout, she's an English major at UGA, and we ended up going out for sushi.

Isn't it pretty? It was all very good, except for the raw quail egg.

After that late lunch, Scout took me traipsing around the UGA campus. It was lots of fun, again UGA is HUGE so there were plenty of hidden nooks, like this lovely little garden:

Scout doesn't really like photos of herself, but she took this one of me shortly before we parted ways:

I bought that Dreaded Minz T-shirt at Diverse Universe the night before. They were raising money for some kind of cool community project. Oh, speaking of raising money, on Monday, there were these sorority girls having a yard sale to raise money for two Mongolian children to have cleft palate surgery. Good cause, really cute stuff for cheap, a lot of it from Asia. Athens stores, while totally awesome, are fairly pricey, so I didn't do too much shopping. Nonetheless, my bank account's scraping the bottom of the barrel. Glad pay day is tommorow. (Today, actually...)

I got back home late Thursday night, and the rest of the break consisted of spending time with family and friends, and trying to get a little more work done.

The moral of the story is, you can have your cake and eat it too...no wait, that's been said...how about, you don't have to have a lot of money, know your surroundings, or even know what the heck you're doing, to have an unforgettable Spring Break.

Now I'd like to get at least a few hours' sleep...

Plans:

The weather is catching me off guard though. I really should have checked the forecast, I definitely packed with a rosy view of perfect, sunny Spring Break weather. It was like 45 degrees today. Brr.

In other news, God is still very good. He's been humoring me even as I do and say incredibly stupid things. (sheesh, I can be such an idiot.) His newest message: "My will, My way, My time." Amen, Lord.

So my new favorite phrase is creative collaboration. Converse is really getting into that spirit of late with the Strategic Vision - there's this new creativity grant that I would absolutely apply for if I could think of something awesome to do with it. I'm applying my creativity elsewhere, though. This Hub-Bub Student Street Team is really starting to get rolling. Wait, I haven't really told you about that, have I?

Well, I told you about College Town, a long time ago, but in case you don't remember, it's a consortium of college presidents and deans and city officials whose purpose is to promote Spartanburg's image and reality as a "vibrant college town." No offense, Spartanburg, but you've got a ways to go. :)  (I'm speaking from my lofty perch here in Athens...)

Anyway, what the Student Street Team is, is a collaboration between students of the different colleges, College Town, and Hub-Bub (Spartanburg's super awesome cultural arts organization) to A. Keep tabs on what college students really think and want, and represent that to the powers that be, B. increase communication between college students, different schools, and the community so that college kids are aware of all the awesome stuff that is already happening in Spartanburg, C. facilitate creative collaboration amonst the same in order to make more awesome stuff happen in Spartanburg, and D. be a hefty resource for Spartanburg college students who want to get plugged in and make a difference. This is my baby. Mine and Arielle Angel's (artist-in-residence at Hub-Bub). BTW, you should check out the AIR show, it's at the Showroom right now and it's incredible.

So what exactly have we done? Well, we met, we brainstormed a lot, we formed commitees, and the committees got to work.

One committee wanted to see a big community bulletin board downtown, a place for Spartanburgers to tell and learn about whatever's happening. These guys ran into Spartanburg Creative Energy who had the same idea only on steroids (they don't just want one little board downtown, they want a bunch of big ones all over the city!) so now they're working together.

Another committee wanted to see a monthly events calendar go out to all the colleges in Spartanburg, something that kids could hang up in their dorms that would tell them about the cool cultural stuff going on at other schools and around town. Some Wofford girls took this up as a service project and we saw the first issue of Best of the Spiz in our mail boxes just a few weeks ago. (Hey...if you're putting on a cool event in Spartanburg that college kids would dig, shoot them an email at bestofthespiz@gmail.com.)

What else? Ooh some events...somebody wants to do a student juried art show, someone else wants to do an improv comedy night (a la Whose Line is it Anyway only troops from different schools would battle it out), aand open mic nights are a must of course.

I'm working on two events: Swing Dancing at the Showroom, (pretty much like we had at Converse only with more boys) and a jam fest thing where musicians and music aficionados of every age and stage come together at my favorite park downtown and engage in glorious, musical mayhem. I got the idea from the folk jam sessions in awesome little North Carolina towns like Tryon and Hendersonville (In Tryon it's called the pickin' parlor and they do it every month). I know we have a lot of great musicians here in the Spiz. It's time to come out of the woodwork, y'all!

Anyway, we just got word from College Town, we have funding, so stay tuned for more info on those two events, they should both be happening before the end of the semester. And definitely keep your eyes peeled, by next fall we want every student in Spartanburg to know who we are and we can do.

It is so exciting to be creating something like this from the ground up. We're actually doing it, and we're doing it our way. It's like my whole college career has been preparing me for this. Way back when I wrote about my "big ideas" for how an organization is most effective, do you remember? (here's the post) Well here's where I get to try out all my ideas. And I've had a lot more since then. The Street Team is going to have transparent internal communications, where everyone is in the know, ideas flow freely and every opinion is heard (relevant link). It's the people with the most drive and the right skills that'll move things forward, but they know how to listen, tap the strengths of everyone around them and draw in resources as needed. It's...creative collaboration. Sound too good to be true? Maybe...but I'm starting to buy into the notion that anything's possible.

So yeah, if you can't tell, I'm pretty excited. I also have my hands full. All this and graduation too. (BTW, my family is coming! All of them! We haven't had a real family reunion since my niece Shakti was born - I'm ecstatic.) This semester's been rough, but so worth it. My GPA might be taking a slight downward turn, but if I could go back and do it again, I wouldn't change a thing.

Oh one more thing, I'm doing the Augustine Project when I graduate. It's a program that trains volunteers with the Orton-Gillingham method of teaching reading, in exchange for a commitment to tutor a low-income child with a reading disability for a year. This is so important, because if a child can't read, how can they learn? With a stunted education, they will be disadvantaged for the rest of their lives. I just can't stand around when there's something I can do about it, when I can make a difference for at least one child.

But this isn't completely sacrificial. I hear having Orton-Gillingham training opens a lot of doors for people in the education world. It'll certainly come in handy when I homeschool my kids and/or start up private tutoring. I was hesitant at first, because I was afraid it was not going to mesh with my job situation, especially since you're usually tutoring during school/business hours, but it's only 2 hours a week. I just had to take a leap of faith and hope my boss will be understanding.

Yes, I know, now I have one-more-thing-itis, but speaking of jobs,  I have a few irons in the fire. Converse/Wofford interview day was...interesting. (I wore a suit, woah.) A few good prospects there and elsewhere. But most importantly, I'm trusting God to open the right door.

"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." Matt 10:16

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29

As I grow through phases, certain scriptures become my mottos. These two slapped me over the head this weekend. God has a way of doing that. Boy do I love Him.

I read Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." If you've never read it, do it. It just might change your life. I have so much respect for this man, his learning, his integrity, his faith.

The funny thing is, as profound and ideological this letter was, and as crucial it would become to the civil rights movement, he did not write it under clear-cut, tell-your-kids-the-story circumstances. He was in prison, in the solitary confinement cell away from his co-workers, and unlike the prison stints of other civil rights activists, this one was arousing little public sympathy or media attention. He wrote it in response to the comments of a whole coalition of spiritual leaders who claimed his most recent action was radical and untimely, his religious fervor displaced. He had his own doubts, maybe this Birmingham campaign had been a mistake, had been ill-planned, would in fact hinder the cause.

Out of that came what is perhaps the 20th century's most profound statement on human dignity and Christian compassion.

This past week has been full of the most difficult choices I've ever had to make. Choices that I can't expect others to understand, choices that I expect people to trivialize or misinterpret, choices that if a past me saw the present me making, I would totally have said "What the **** am I doing?" Perhaps the future me will look back and say "what the **** was I thinking?" Yet for some reason I am compelled, and I can't help that reason has something to do with God.(Doesn't everything?) Some of these choices are probably mistakes. But I'd rather be the one who falls and learns, and others learn with her, than the one who never falls, never learns, and never teaches anything.

Or maybe I really am just a lost little girl.

This is my friend Ash. We go all the way back to freshman year, orientation in 2nd Williams. Ash was the first lesbian I'd ever met. I was a 15-yr-old homeschool kid, surrounded by older girls who seemed so seasoned by the world. It seemed like whenever I was around that bunch, they'd be talking about things I knew nothing about, didn't quite want to know about but which avid curiosity kept me from fleeing. Later they admitted to very intentionally changing the conversation to sex, drugs, or alcohol every time I came around, just to mess with me. Ahh, freshman year. Funny thing about Ash, though, she may go for the shock factor, but she keeps everything on the level.

Ash and I both became creative and professional writing majors, and got to know one another better through our writing in class. (You can learn a lot from a person by what they choose to write about.) It's an unexpected friendship, a biblical Christian and a gay rights activist. I don't agree with all of the things she does and stands for, and I won't. A lot like I will never be ok with heterosexual, extra-marital sex. (Yeah, you heard me. Jesus doesn't like folks sleeping around.) However, I love Ash with the same boundless love Jesus has for all of us. And I can't help but respect the courage and passion with which she strives for human freedom.

 I trust that one day on earth or in Heaven I'll be able to reconcile Sodom and Gomorrah with Jesus' love. But since when have earthly institutions earned the right to play God? The last I heard, the government was only around to protect people from bad people, and from an overbearing government. But then, I may be hopelessly stuck in the 18th century.

Incidentally, today I learned of a hate group which dares to use the word "Church" in its name. I will not honor it by giving you the rest of its name, because they would want that. Suffice to say, while many people condemn America for being "intolerant," others condemn her for being an "enabler." This division and hate grieves me to no end.

As do the methods of intimidation that I've been reading about in my 1960's class, associated with the Jim Crow South and the McCarthy era. Interrogation behind closed doors, secret, rushed trials where emotions ran high, proof ran low, and the punishment vastly outweighed the crimes...and most of all, that sense of fear, fear of being different, fear of getting a stigma that would ruin one's livelihood, fear of being punished for speaking out...I like to think that America has grown out of those dark ages, but sometimes I worry.

I'm beginning to see how difficult it is being Ash. As hard as I try to be "all things to all men," it seems there will always be people who dislike or distrust me, just because of something I am or do. In my case, both by certain non-Christians who associate me with bigotry or closed-mindedness, and by certain Christians who assume, by my unorthodox practices, that I am crazy or subversive.

However, I have never been personally, physically attacked, nor have I had to endure the kind of verbal abuse and threats that Ash and her friends deal with on a daily basis. I doubt I'll ever come close to knowing that.

Speaking of human rights being taken away, I am compelled to share with you something that has shaken me in a more personal fashion. In California, a court ruled that parents without a teacher certification should not be allowed to homeschool their children. This strikes a deep blow to the right of parents to "raise up their children in the way they should go." I understand that some parents are unfit to teach and I'm not saying that the government should stand around if someone is truly harming their child. But teacher certification is a little bit about how to teach kids and a lot about how to deal with beaurocracy and people en masse. Countless parents, including mine, have done a fine job supervising their children's education through high school, some without even a college diploma. It is not the responsibility of the government to educate a child, much like it is not the responsibility of the government to keep you from saying something naughty, or to tell you who you can or can't love.  (More information)

Firstly, I've been kind of keeping quiet about God lately because I know not all of you are interested in hearing about Him. However, He's such a huge part of my life, especially at the moment, that I don't think I can be quiet any longer. GOD IS AMAZING. He is more romantic than anyone I'll ever known (crack open Song of Solomon or any of the books written by the apostle John and you'll see what I mean) He is an exquisite artist (look out of your window) and as beautiful as this masterwork we call the world may be, He is infinitely more beautiful. A nonbeliever recently told me that she didn't appreciate people being scared into Christianity with the threat of hellfire. Well, neither do I. And I really don't think God is a big fan of all that fire-and-brimstone stuff. He's wooing us with his love and beauty - how can you truly love someone back if you're just turning to them because you're scared? I hope that someday you will fall in love with Him as much as I have (and even more so).

Ok, enough of that. But wait, I just also have to say, it's really great having spiritual companions. (Shout out to Pam Monahan and Liz Jones!) God has blessed me recently with some sisters that I can share my heart with. He seems to be bringing Christians at Converse together...it's so exciting! (and darn it, I have to leave it all soon.)

On to other news. I LOVE FENCING. Dr. Delapp...excuse me, Kevin (as he prefers to be called while in his "civilian clothes") is completely fun and very knowledgeable. Well I knew that already from going to Europe with him last January, but I forgot just how cool he was. I think he won a west coast championship at some point. We have had two meetings so far. It's very aerobic, and a bit rough on the thighs initially. But it's just so cool to gear up and swing sabres at each other (Sabre fencing = not just poking but slashing and swatting too) without getting hurt. I look forward to it every Monday and Wednesday. Another reason I'm sad to be graduating: Kevin wants get the club ready for competing locally within the next few years...not fair!

Reason #34 I'm sad to be graduating: the writers of Converse are uniting! My friend and fiction editor Rebecca Rawls and I have started monthly writers' lunches where students get together and share/discuss their work informally. If any students actually read my blog, feel free to join us for the next one @ 12:00 March 4 in the WC!  I've also been just getting a lot of good talks with writer friends. Last night, Heather Price and I put our heads together about our publications (the newspaper and the literary journal) and generated all sorts of ideas. Then I ran into Rachel Harman and Jo Gaillard, both also writers and friends, and talked about writing some more.

Last night was like a signal for Change. I hope y'all caught the lunar eclipse, it was pretty awesome (I'll confess though, I really didn't know what was going on - Jennifer Kaeser had to explain it to me). I went to two lectures, one by Dr. Poelvoorde on the presidential race and the fate of America (particularly the electoral college system and the presidency), and one by Micheal Curtis (fiction editor of the prestigious Atlantic Monthly journal) about the fate of the American short story. They were both incredibly thought provoking. Made me want to stand up and DO something. It's kind of hard for one kid to make a dent in american politics or contemporary literature, but maybe if I and my peers think hard enough about it, we can come up with some kind of positive action.

I really appreciate this kind of conversation amongst students and professors. ("This kind" being the conversation about present day things in the world that we really think are important, and about what we can do to make the situation better.) It's part of what makes the university such an appealing place. I have Medieval Music History and Music & Society of the 60's (two Vanemans and a Theilmann - they can't help but be interesting) and oddly enough in both classes we've been discussing the birth, purpose, and changing nature of the university. One interesting thing about it is that it is both a place of preservation (the wisdom of past centuries protected from war, chaos, and public apathy) and progressivism (how many innovative, world-changing movements have traced their roots to a college campus?).

I could keep on like this for a while, but it's late. Hasta luego!

He's 81 years old, and still so full of pep! He was a perfect showman, of the genteel variety who actually seems to care how the audience receives him. His manner was so gracious - he just beamed at us and extended his hands in welcome and entertained us with tidbits about his adventures in showbiz. He even danced a little. And his voice - still impeccable! And his band was flawless. He seemed so joyful, like he was doing his absolute favorite thing in the world surrounded by his absolute favorite people - his band and his audience.

Kris and I were dancing in our seats. I guess we really showed our pleasure because afterward the people behind us were like "You weren't having a good time up there, were you?" And one lady gave me Tony Bennett's autobiography. Apparently he's an artist too! We really wanted to meet him after the show but I guess it just wasn't fated to be. Oh and we kept giving him ovations and he just kept coming back out and singing for us...apparently he sang 30 minutes longer than was in his contract, because we liked him so much.

Here's a picture of us after the concert:

(photo thanks to Kris)

oh yeah and that's how my room looks now. I re-did it after Anna moved back home. It's sad because I miss her, but it's kind of luxurious having this big room to myself. And it's fun to entertain people - Kris spent the night, and last night the power went out at my house so my mom stayed over.

My semester's been good so far. Concept's really kind of taking over my life, since we're doing editing and layout, and I'm trying to get the office into some semblance of order and establish some kind of infrastructure for record keeping. But it's good work.

 Classes are really interesting. I'm taking Graphic Design, Honors 1960's Music and Society, Creative Nonfiction, Music History II: Medieval and Renaissance, and of course senior BFA seminar. Next week Dr. Delapp starts up our new fencing club. I'm looking forward to that. Voice this semester is going to be awesome because I'm focusing on swing/American Songbook stuff which is really where my heart is. Cole Porter, the Gerswins, Irving Berlin and the like. At last I feel at home vocally.

My last semester is going to be a very good one. Aggh, my last semester!! I'm so not ready for the real world. I'm going to have to...go to work and buy insurance and stuff! It's scary!

Oh dear, it's almost eight. I've got to get over to the music building, there's a guest soprano tonight. Until next time!

PS. this may seem completely random but I had to share this really awesome link: www.ReadHisWord.com it's a fully customizable Bible reading schedule creator. I'm reading the Prophets now. Interesting stuff.

What if I were a sort of "moveable brain?" Perhaps a more professional-sounding title would be "special projects assistant." Surely you're thinking "what the heck does that mean?"  Well, one unfortunate truth about Converse that it is a small school with huge goals. The huge goals part is great, don't get me wrong, but I've seen, so many times, how stretched the faculty and staff get. Like the QEP Implementation Committee. None of us has been hired to do this full-time, and none of us are getting paid for the extra hours we spend on it. (At least I  haven't heard of any money...) We do it because we love the college, and I think that's the reason so many faculty and staff stay at Converse, even though they may get paid more to do less elsewhere. I see real passion and commitment to the school in so many of its members, and that love goes a long way when the funding gets low and the hours get long. 

Converse students get stretched too. You may notice how "accomplished" a Converse graduate is, how many "shining stars grace her curricula vita." Well it's not easy. We work into the wee hours of the morning on stuff we don't get paid for, don't get a grade for, sometimes don't get enough credit for. We could "get by" doing a lot less. But I think we do these things because they are worth doing, and because we seem to be the ones that are supposed to do them. And hopefully because we love it.

Oh dear, that was a tangent. Back to my dream job. Noting this problem, and being of the sort who likes to find the solution to problems, I thought, wow, what if Converse had one more full-time employee who could lend a brain and a pair of hands anywhere on campus as it was needed? I have a pretty good brain (there's no way to say that and sound humble, is there?) and there are so many different things that I can latch on to and get passionate about. I also love research and learning the methods of something new. Obviously there are a lot of things at Converse that I know nothing about, am not good with, and/or don't give a flip about, but I think there's enough here to keep me busy. Obviously I'd need some sort of manager to assign me to various committees/departments/offices (it would be hard to decide who needs help the most!), and to make sure I wasn't given more work than I could handle.

I'm getting better and better at organizing and multitasking. Actually I think it's an inevitable result of a quality that some people may label ADD. (My brother has it and I think my dad does too.) My brain is constantly leaping from thing to thing to thing, and to make sense of it all, I have to organize its output as I go. Like today, I was keeping notes as I went through the QEP material, and I just kept starting new sheets of paper with different topics related to the QEP. That way I could record each idea in a place where I could refer back to it when it was time to focus on that subject. I can hyperfocus at times, and yet great ideas about completely unrelated things are constantly popping up out of seeming nowhere. 

In this dream job that would be to my advantage, as I would be able to manage a number of very different projects at once. I would also be happy because of the variety. It would be like working several part-time jobs, with all the convenience and health benefits of full-time work. Sometimes I'd get a project that I would have to do research on and learn new ways of thinking and doing. And then there would be those projects where I could utilize what I already know, my experience with the college and with life in general. I'd hyperfocus my brain power on it in measured periods until it was done - maybe in a day, maybe in a few months, maybe years.  Ah, the sense of accomplishment at a task completed, and a job well done! And oh, how I'd grow and grow and never stop!

Now you know what nature of rosy fantasies occupy Lydia's head. What a strange bird. I may wake up tomorrow and think, "you idiot!" but that's ok. It sounds great tonight.

But I really need to get back to the QEP, and after that, I have to review poetry submissions for my meeting with Megan. Back-to-back meetings, what are the odds of that? And then an appointment to cut Kandice's hair. Last week's lazy snow days are such a distant memory...

It's been about 5 years since that happened. Last time, I made an igloo. This time, my friends and I made a 6 1/2 foot snowman:

Pictured: Kandice Jeske, Pamela Monahan, Buff, Me, Triona Gateley, Jennifer Kaeser, Ashley Brunjes

It was...ethereal.

After playing in the snow for a good long while, we went back to Jennifer's room for hot cocoa and spinach dip. Not before a mini unwrapping party in the bathroom:

The next morning, we woke up to this:

All above photos courtesy of Ashley Brunjes. Thanks!

Thursday was an official snow day, so we students didn't have to go to class or work. I really don't think the conditions were that bad, certainly if we were West Virginia or Alaska nothing would have closed, but snow is just so novel in the South that I think we just all kind of freak out about it. (All the grown-ups wanted to go out and play in it too I'm sure.) Not that I'm complaining.  We had a great afternoon of snow penguins, snowball fights, and sledding down the soccer field hill on Rubbermaid tubs, lids, trashbags, and whatever else we could get our hands on. Sadly, I have no footage of that.

Naturally, this romping about in the cold did nothing for my congestion and cough, which grew rather gut-wrenching over the next few days. But I slept a lot and drank a lot of orange juice, so I'm pretty much over it now.

On Saturday we (Me, Triona, Anna Bennett, Jessica Pittard, Liz and Dempsey, and Dempsey's brother TJ) went to the Cowpens battlefield. They were having some kind of anniversary commemoration, with lots of costumed reenactors. It would have been quite fun, I'm sure, had it not been 30something degrees, raining, and me hacking up my insides. When the rain started to turn to ice we headed back to campus, where we enjoyed more hot cocoa, Nutella, cheese and Wheat Thins, and watched Mystery Science Theater. (Quest of the Delta Nights = funny.)

Then Liz and I got ready for our second performance (I guess I forgot to mention the first, huh) of Hildegard of Bingen's "O Frondens Virga" at the Chapman Cultural Center. We were guest artists of the Spartanburg Philharmonic.  That was pretty cool.

Life has been kind to me, overall. I wrote a funny article for the Conversationalist about Muggle Quidditch. Read this article. I am so happy for the Conversationalist. My friend Heather Price is the new editor. She is an awesome person and is doing fantastic things for the newspaper. I think the January issue is going to blow Converse's mind. (with its awesomeness.) Oh dear, I better shut up and get some sleep before I succumb to silliness entirely.

Oh, but before I leave you, I thought I'd share a fond memory of what my hall gets up to at 2:00am...(photo credits to Elizabeth Dempsey)

Principal Faith, Tracey from Hairspray, Spaced-Out Hippie, and Emo Spiderman

Pat from Saturday Night Live, David Bowie in Purple, Scared Frodo, and Pat Benetar

(they are going to kill me for posting these...hahahaha!)

Back on campus, things have been great. I’m taking two classes (a little unusual for January term). I’ve got Honors Arthur and the Matter of Britain with the awesome Mr. Charles Morgan, and Advanced Tutorial Poetry with the amazing visiting poet R.T. Smith. He’s the editor of the literary journal Shenandoah, how cool is that? Speaking of literary journals, Concept is running right on schedule. We’ve read the submissions and will be sending acceptance letters come February. Got some good stuff this year. It’s hard to choose.

Our first weekend back, my best friend Pam and I took a lovely afternoon stroll downtown. We spent some time reading at the Spartanburg Public Library, then got some coffee at the Cafe on Morgan Square. It was devastating to come back to school to find that both of our coffee shops, Ishi and Crossroads, had closed, probably for good. But as far as coffee goes, we lucked out to find the Cafe on Morgan Square. They feature the same coffee as Ishi did, roasted by Spartanburg’s own Little River Roasting Co., and their chai is none too bad. The interior is cozy with lots of dark wood, some soft wingback chairs, and a few board games. They’ve got a great location on Main Street, tucked in the row with Monsoon, Delaney’s, and the furniture company. Look for "the Sandwich Factory" above a big awning.

The only problem is, they close at four pm. Not cool. But with the big void left by Ishi and Crossroads, a few hints might change that. I talked to the owner today actually. He’s a nice guy but a keen businessman. If a bunch of generously tipping college students came and told him that late hours would make him more money...

Today’s rant #1:

BOYCOTT STARBUCKS!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, I said it.

On the up side, Mellow Mushroom just opened yesterday. Come payday I’ll check it out. Back to last Saturday. When the Cafe closed at 4:00, Pam and I headed to the Hub-Bub Showroom. We just wanted a place to chill and finish our coffee, an art show would be a plus. Well they were between shows, but it was a cool time to stop by because they’d invited a bunch of graffiti artists to adorn a wall in honor of the upcoming show, Art of the Street. I’m gonna try to make it to the reception this Saturday (7:00-9:00) it should be pretty cool. So yeah, we hung out with the grafitti artists for a bit, then headed back to Converse. All in all, it was a great day.

Rant # 2:

All you rich Main Street property owners, please LOWER YOUR RENT! You might not care if you’re forcing the coolest business owners out of town, but you don’t have to walk past all those heart-wrenching empty windows every day. I and the people of Spartanburg implore you...we beg of you...

Might not do any good but I feel better.

Oh yes, we found out about something else cool happening Saturday: the Church of the Advent is doing an art & faith conference. Lectures on worship through art and music, plus hands-on projects! Pam worked out a hefty student discount with Father Roy (he’s so nice!) so if you’re interested, just let them know if you’re a student. (Link to Brochure)

What else? Oh yeah, Professor Mulkey’s gonna read at Hub-Bub on Monday night, and R.T. Smith’s reading at Converse on Tuesday. My schedule’s packed!

I’d offer you pictures but I misplaced my camera in Kentucky! Horror! (If you pray, can you mention me and my camera? I’d appreciate it.)

Until next time!

PS. Stay tuned for the new issue of Root –I'm writing a story it’s gonna be great!

PPS. Look, it's the Valkyries:

This was the last week of school, all that's left is exams and final projects. I have one exam and a final critical essay, a short story, a journal, and a poetry sequence due. Not too bad. It's a good thing too because the brain is fritzing out on me as it is.

Last Saturday the Bards went "on the road" for the first time. We played at the St. Nicholas festival at Sarah's church in Columbia. Still not getting paid but Sarah's family's generous hospitality and the memories we made were well worth it. It made us all remember why we started doing this to begin with and wish we had time to do it more often.

We also played at the SGA Christmas party the Monday before last, which was really fun. There were a lot of students and some faculty there (it's always a pretty big deal) so you could say it gave us a lot of publicity. Except that we weren't introduced so nobody knew we were the Bards of Eireann. We led a student sing along, which, although there were only a few hardcore carolers, seemed to lend a warm, festive air to the whole event. Several people came up to us individually later and told us how much they enjoyed it.

It's going to be so hard for us with Sarah Bracey gone to France in J-term and the spring semester! I know she is going to have a wonderful, life changing experience at the French university, but I for one am going to miss her like nobody's business. She is one of the most brilliant, beautiful people I know. It was especially hard thinking that I would be off to Austin as soon as she got back, but knowing that I'll be around Spartanburg for their senior year makes it a lot easier for me to graduate. :) Call me lame, but I'm probably going to be one of those alumnae who spends every free moment back at Converse. Hey, give me a break, going by age I ought to have another two years at the school!

I have pictures!! Last Saturday was my last Peppermint Ball. Of all the traditions at Converse, that's the one I think I'll miss the most. Now I'm not much of a dance person - the type of music and dancing that most of the college crowd considers normal I find utterly distasteful - but the Peppermint Ball is a class of its own. It's a formal ball held in Gee Dining Hall - transformed by festive and elegant decorations - that features the Dick Goodwin Band, a big brass variety band that plays shag, swing, and a little of everything else. Swing is my absolute favorite type of dancing, and shag is basically just a slowed-down swing with one hand free to hold a beer. (I'm not kidding, they say that's how it started!)  I always have a blast.

A whole bunch of West Wilson and 4th Pell girls got ready in Triona and Sarah's room this year, so that was like a party in itself, and then we all went out in our makeup and curlers for sushi. Usually I rope a handful of guy friends to dance with, but this year none of them could come so it was just me, the girls, the boyfriends, and the dates who were willing to be shared. :) We had a lot of fun flitting about, taking pictures, dancing the Electric Slide, etc. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect senior Peppermint Ball.

Grace Suggs, Jennifer Kaeser, Pamela Monahan, and Emily Green

Heather Price, Martha Miller, and me

Me and Triona Gateley

Sarah Bracey and boyfriend Charlie

Standing: Liz Jones, Elizabeth Dempsey, Jessica Pittard, Jennifer, Pam, me, Emily. Sitting: Heather, Daniela Burrows, Sarah, Triona

Hmm. this might be it before the holidays. If so, it's been fun blogging for you this semester! If you've enjoyed reading, please hit the "gimme a shout" button over on the left side and leave me a note.

Best wishes!

After a fabulous meal, Kaity and I went outside to set acorns and things on fire, then we went back inside and messed around on the piano while the rest of our families chatted. Later on, we had turkey sandwiches and some more pie (Chocolate, Pumpkin, and Key Lime!) and watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. That's apparently a Dixon tradition for Thanksgiving evening. It was nice to be a part of it.

And then came Black Friday. Not only did I wake up with a bleakly clear vision of everything I have to accomplish in the two weeks left before the end of the semester, but I also realized that I have to come up with presents for all my family and friends, with next to no money.

Man I wish I'd been a little more stingy at the Ren Faire. By the way, it was great fun. The highlight of the day was definitely when I met my hero, Leonardo DaVinci. Not only did we have a great chat about the challenge of achieving flight, but he also invited me to dance with him. My friends and I saw acrobats, musicians, belly dancers, the Chicken Man...I had a great time but was a little too loose with the purse strings....

So yes, I was pondering gift-giving, and I was reminded of something that I like a lot but have never actually done. You know that charity that's like "Honor your loved one by providing a llama/cow/goat/chickens to a needy family in South America/Asia/Africa"? I've always thought it was such a cool idea, especially since most of us don't really need more stuff and the gift is really just about the kind gesture. But I'm worried that people will feel gypped if their present goes to someone else. But maybe I'm not giving my friends and family enough credit. I just found out World Vision is doing the same idea, only more broad. It has things like "$25 to provide $325 of necessities to an impoverished child in NYC"

It got me thinking about ways to make my gifts this year go farther. My sister told me that she's getting a lot of gifts this year from The Greater Good Store, which has a lot of cool, reasonably-priced products with which you can actually choose to support the breast cancer battle, literacy, child health, rainforest conservation, animal rescue, or the fight against world hunger. They also support fair trade and offer "Gifts that Give More" (the same idea as the World Vision/ llama gifts.) I'm definitely hoping to do a lot of my Christmas shopping there.

I'm tuning into a great trend of charity working with mainstream culture and capitalism. Examples of this are Product(RED), Invisible Children, Ten Thousand Villages, and ONE. Charities are realizing that not everyone is prepared to give and get nothing in return, but it turns out that most people love the idea of meeting one of their own needs/wants and helping someone else in the process. I'm also witnessing the culture change: it's starting to be "cool" to give.

While I'm on this vein, I thought I'd introduce you to two more links.  Idealist.org is an amazing resource for positive-action-minded individuals, organizations, and businesses. I can't even tell you all the great things it offers, but one of them is a job search tailored to those who want to work in the non-profit sector or in support of a greater good. Lucas Patterson, the editor of Root, introduced me to this one and it has pretty much rocked my world.

The Charity Navigator is a guide to making informed and intelligent decisions about giving. Good for people trying to decide where their dollar will make the most impact.

And now for something completely different.

 Today I went to the meeting about Converse's Strategic Vision & Plan. At it, President Fleming presented Converse's big vision, goals, and action plan for the next five years. I was so happy about the whole thing. Not only could I see and appreciate the process they went through to make it happen - so much research, careful thought, and community involvement - but the resulting goals and strategy were something I could fully support. I can't explain it very well, but the big thrust is that of creativity - fostering the creative minds of students and teachers, and breaking out of the box as an institution to discover innovative solutions and advance the college community. The committee also developed 7 core values that will unite and guide the entire college. Here's the draft of them that President Fleming sent us over the summer.

EXCELLENCE drives us to achieve the best in all that we pursue; to develop competence, confidence and courage to realize full potential in mind, body and spirit.

INTEGRITY calls us to cultivate and exercise honor, character and vision in daily decisions and actions; to act honestly and justly when confronted with ethical dilemmas and life’s challenges.

EXPLORATION compels us to think critically and creatively in the acquisition of knowledge and skills; to discover and enrich scholarship and research, disciplines, methods and vocations through hands-on learning and leadership and through discovery, discourse and debate.

DIVERSITY inspires us to embrace the different perspectives, experiences, cultures, backgrounds, talents and contributions that comprise a global society; to enhance and expand inclusivity as we build a stronger multi-dimensional community. 

RESPECT leads us to value self and others, recognizing the legitimacy of individuality in belief, expression and perspective; to exercise civility, mindfulness and responsibility in words and actions.

COMMUNITY motivates us to develop a dynamic network of relationships through a balance of work and play that nurtures the abilities of each member in order to establish a better whole; to mentor, collaborate and communicate as engaged citizens who effect positive change.

PROGRESS challenges us to think strategically toward the future by employing creativity, adaptability, ingenuity and innovation; to advance and transform the world around us.

I'm so excited for Converse's future. Actually pretty sad to be graduating now, because I want to be a part of what I'm sure will be some of the school's most exciting times since its founding. But hey, I can stay involved as an alumna. Plus (and I'll let you all in on a little secret) I'm thinking I want to stick around Spartanburg for another year or so.  I'm beginning to understand why so many Converse alumnae want a job at their Alma Mater!

Tuesday was Concept and the Writing Center's collaborative event, Literary Heroes. It was pretty much my brainchild and I had to be the MC so I was majorly stressing about it, but it went really well. It was in the Cabin, which is a beautiful, cozy little space just right for readings and such. Students and faculty read a selection by one of their "literary heroes." We had Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Maya Angelou, Robert Frost, and J.K. Rowling, just to name a few. There was also lots of cheese. I love cheese.

Speaking of cheese, I just got back from the Hub-Bub showroom, where Converse had brought their final visiting writer of the semester, Margaret Hathaway, who wrote a great food/travel memoir called the Year of the Goat. She read a selection from her book, which tells the story of the year she and her husband took to explore a simpler life as goat farmers. It was a great reading and then Evin Evans, who owns an award-winning goat farm in Anderson, talked a little about her life as a goat farmer. We learned a lot about goats, some about sustainable small-scale farming, and sampled a lot of goat products. And it's just so fun to spend time in the Showroom. I had a little time to peruse the new art show, which was by Converse's own art faculty Teresa Prater and Andrew Blanchard. I loved it.

Thanksgiving Break is coming up. I am so ready!! Of course I'm going to have to spend most of it researching for my English Lit paper, but still. No class! My parents and I are going to get together with some good family friends for Thanksgiving dinner. I'm excited, especially since Mrs. Dixon is a fantastic cook.

This Saturday I'm going with some friends to the Renaissance Faire outside of Charlotte. It's like our yearly pilgrimage. We are dorks to the max, and not a bit ashamed. We deck out in our renaissance finery and ham it up with all the fair workers. Last year, I got invited into a courtly dance by a visiting Rennie who thought I worked there. It's so much fun to just be as crazy as you want.

I am so tired. It's 11:00 and I still have to read for class tomorrow, write poetry, compose, and get the publicity together for the search for a new Conversationalist editor. That's right, our student newspaper needs a leader. If you're a Converse undergrad and are interested in revolutionizing the information network on campus, contact Witney Fisher. Ok there's my plug for the night.

Props to Belda Thomas and the Academics Committee of Senate. Today they conducted a survey on course evaluations. Those are what students fill out on the last day of every class to provide feedback for the professor and administration. But since they get squeezed into the last ten minutes of the semester, they don't always reflect serious insight. From what I understand, the Academics committee is looking at revamping them, possibly even computerizing them. It's things like that which are constantly making Converse a better place!

Goodnight.

Last week was 1889 Spirit Week. That is a week of friendly competition between classes over various acticities, culminating in the awarding of the 1889 cup to the winning class. I was in the skit and the dance. For the skit, we did a video of interviews with seniors, answering the questions "What are you Wild About?" and "What do you think is the legacy of the class of 2008?" Then we sang "In My Life" by the Beatles. I was pleased because although it was touching, I think our skit avoided the usual senior sap-fest. In the dance, not only did we have a slew of dancers but it also had a fashion show element with models (including me) and photographers.

Other highlights of skit and dance night included Coach Moore's delightfully flighty impersonation of Talisha Flegler and Dr. McDaniel's simultaneous performance of roommates Hannah Eisengrin and Brianne Cross. The junior class showed abundant energy in their dance, which made use of 80’s music and dance moves. The junior skit was also highly creative, involving a time-traveling Valkyrie, President Fleming, and a secret society dedicated to the multiplication of campus statues.

Despite a few hard works between classes that were quickly regretted, I think that over the week, relationships were strengthened. The highlights of my week were when some freshman decided to donate their can drive cans to their big sisters, and when the sophomores and seniors made a pact not to compete with each other in the coin war. Of course we raised thousands of dollars and donated thousands of cans to charity, but I think most of us view that as an added bonus. :)

On Saturday, I got to sit with President Fleming in the front row seats of Twitchell to hear Barack Obama speak. I’d never heard a presidential candidate speak live before, so it was pretty exciting. Now the hour-and-a-half wait before his 30 minute speech was pretty lame, but whatever. He had some interesting things to say and he certainly was charismatic. President Fleming, some other students and I had a nice discussion about him afterward. She had some pretty insightful words about positions of leadership of that kind. She said you can’t always go in with a plan, sometimes young, less-experience leaders have to be trusted to go in, listen to the needs of the community, and then act upon them. She also said leadership skills are often more about inspiring and directing others to get things accomplished, than doing a lot of things oneself.

Next was lunch in the soccer field to watch the powder puff football game. Despite the ferocious determination of the senior players, (and their very large group of cheerleaders) the exuberant freshmen class claimed the victory.

Then it was the Senior Champagne Toast at President Fleming’s house, and then the 1889 dance, where naturally, the seniors were awarded the cup. Our happy surprise came when our little sisters took second place.

This week it's all about writing: poetry (This Friday is Concept's submission deadline!) an article for the Writing Center newsletter, and an article for Correlations.

First things first. Iowa. It was....life changing. I flew, by myself, to a state I had never set foot in, in which I didn't know a soul. That in itself is an unforgettable experience. In Chicago, I had an hour and a half layover. As I wandered the concourse at the O'Hare airport, I knew.

I knew then that I can do anything. I can go anywhere. Yes, that sounds trite, but I was overwhelmed with this spirit of adventure. I wanted to set foot in every state in the US and then start on the countries of the world.

All that and I wasn't even in Iowa yet. Well I had a lovely flight, had pleasant conversation with my seat mate, and upon arriving in the Cedar Rapids airport I found my driver without a hitch. He was a very nice, talkative man of Amish background. He was friends with the Kauffmans (the family I would be staying with).

It was overcast, windy and a bit chilly when I arrived at the Kauffman farm. We parked next to a buggy (In Iowa they are made of black canvas) and I was about to get out and greet the young man standing in front of the house when my driver told me that that was Cephas's son's house and to get to Cephas's house I would need to go down that path. So I went down the path to a smaller house with no driveway, where I met the three unmarried Kauffman daughters: Ada (26), Nettie (23), and Joanne (18). They and their unmarried brother Jonas (21) live there with their parents.

Since the elder Kauffmans retired and handed the farm over to their son Abe and his family, they run a small sorghum (molasses) business. Nettie and Joanne have an operation called Bent & Dent, where they clean, sort, and price damaged groceries for a salvaged grocery store run by some of their cousins. Ada has a sewing business, and the three sisters make and sell "greetings" with stamps and ribbons and such. Jonas finds work seasonally with his brothers, often selling produce or doing construction. (They have 7 married siblings)

That day I saw the sorghum operation, helped out at Bent & Dent for a few hours, and helped Joanne stuff venison balogna. Jonas had caught that deer with his crossbow – that’s where the family gets most of their meat nowadays. Now that was a messy project. We didn’t clean up after ourselves immediately, which meant we had to go back out after dinner with a kerosene lamp and clean up all that meat in the dark and cold. It was kind of fun though. Oh and I saw Joanne’s meat rabbits (they sell fryers) and helped her bring in the laundry. Here is a picture of the laundry:

While I’m at it, here’s a picture of their garden.

Dinner was served in wide bowls. It consisted of bread and jam, pancakes (eaten plain), leftover veggie soup with oyster crackers, balogna on bread with ketchup, and fresh bell peppers, with water to drink. They ate so fast that I ended up being hungry a lot of the time because I didn’t want to get seconds and make them wait on me...(they pray silently before and after meals and it’s kind of awkward being the last one everyone’s staring at). After dinner, Cephas spoke an evening prayer while everyone knelt. Then we sang a hymn from the Christian Hymnal, which is a shape-note hymnal. I knew a couple of the songs in there, though not many. The singing was quite distinctive, somewhat nasal and dwelling on consonants. The men sang in harmony with the women, and Nettie and I sang alto.

On Sunday, Joanne and I went with Abe and his family to a neighboring district’s church meeting. It was my first buggy ride and I was a bit scared because the horse kept shying away from the rainsplashing of the oncoming cars. I don’t blame him, but it felt like the buggy was going to overturn every time.

The service was long and all in Pennsylvania Dutch/High German. I tried to sing along with the songs though. It’s held in an Amish home and afterward there’s a big fellowship meal. Joanne and I sat with some younger, very quiet girls. I think they might have been a bit afraid of me. They sure stared. Afterward we had a lovely afternoon full of visiting and surprisingly genuine Christian fellowship. We ate dinner with a very jolly family and then went to the youth singing, which is a time for all the unmarried folk to get together and sing and visit.

Monday morning, Freda (the mother) took me around town. We visited an Amish general store, an Amish bookstore, three Amish schools, a few families, and the salvaged grocery store that the girls work with.

That night we ate dinner at Abe and Lovina’s next door, and another sibling family joined us. It was heartwarming, with so many kids around and everyone just enjoying each other’s company. Tuesday morning I flew back to earth, and Wednesday at nine I was back in the Writing Center.

I could spend hours and hours writing about my trip. I made a few new friends who I will be writing to and probably visiting again. It was rest for the soul, if not for the body. And comfort for the spirit. They are such sincere Christians, and just genuine people.

Incidentally, Monday was my birthday. I am 19 now. My mom bought me steak at Delaney’s, that was nice. And I got like two dozen Facebook birthday wishes.

This week something really different is happening in Spartanburg. An artist and a writer are living in a shop window downtown for five days. Read their stories in Arielle’s blog and Rachel’s blog. I visited them with my roommate today, and later on when some friends and I went to Wild Wing. I’d met them before in the Hub-Bub showroom. They’re really cool, creative ladies who aren’t afraid to live art. I sure hope this drastic measure will knock some sense into people (namely the owners of those empty buildings who are keeping away tenants by expecting too much rent, and the young crowd that thinks it's too cool for downtown), and further the budding downtown revival. I don't get why people aren't as in love with downtown as I am. It’s got great green spaces, historic buildings, and quirky photographable detail. A charming hangout spot, methinks.

Speaking of downtown, you should check out the Chapman Cultural Center. It’s pretty amazing.

It’s 3am. I’ve had a great day full of poetry and art, and a great night with close friends. Now it is time for sleep.

Anyway, now I am a senior. It's a whole new animal. Some people coast through their senior year, having already taken their hard courses, now just taking fun classes and making memories. Others are just feeling the thumbscrews come on, as they start on senior projects and graduate school exams and job applications. I can't say I'm either kind of senior. No, I'm not taking the most difficult classes - not in the sense of "if I don't work my butt off I'll make a C" but being a writing major is by no means easy.

Sometimes I wish I had the kind of major where you do this number of problems, they are either right or wrong you get a grade, and you move on. Writing is so...personal. There are no correct answers. You've got to generate something from inside yourself (no small effort), and then you have to take a good look at it and decide what it needs to bring it up to your standards, and those of a readership you're not entirely aware of. It takes time. Lots and lots of time. There are no short cuts.

I had this shocking revelation at the begining of the semester. I'm a writing major, so maybe that means I should be in the habit of writing...? A music major habitually practices, right? Prof. Howie and Prof. Mulkey keep telling me that the difference between a writer and someone who likes to write is that writers make the time to write, no matter what else is going on in their life. So that's what I've been trying to do. I've actually marked it in my weekly planner: these hours are for writing.

This semester I'm taking three 3-hour courses: English Literature before 1500 with Professor Morgan, Short Fiction with Professor Tekulve, and Poetry Sequence with Professor Mulkey. Then I've got volleyball, voice lessons and chorale, and I've started taking music composition lessons with Dr. Robbins. In addition, I am editor-in-chief of Concept, Converse's literary journal, and back working in the Writing Center. The band is still hanging in there, and I'm still helping plan events for SAC. It may not be quite as crazy hectic as last semester, but I'd say it is more of a challenge.

Now, how about some pictures?

Here's me in my (messier than usual) dorm. Yes, I am living the dorm life now. I like it. For the first time I feel that my life is entirely my own. And I have a fantastic roommate. (and communal bathrooms aren't nearly as bad as people make them out to be)

I had just got back from the Senior Hats On party, where we'd decorated the whole campus in pink to celebrate Opening Convocation.

And here we are, processing to Twitchell for Opening Convocation. We're decked in our Pink Panther finery, per Converse tradition. So many of my senior friends are in this shot. I think it's going to be one of those pictures I'll look at 10 years from now and shed a tear or two.

Gwen and Laurann at the T Shirt Reconstruction Party. (My first Late Night event this year.)  President Fleming donated some of her old shirts for us to use. Thanks President Fleming! It was a smashing success. (In my humble opinion.)

Mari and Christina definitely win the "most artistic T" award. They had an eye for design and some fine sewing skills!

Sarah, Triona and Liz (aka Miss Scarlett, the Leprechaun, and Glinda). This is how my friends do Big Sis Little Sis. (I had so much fun helping them deliver presents, it was almost as good as being a big sis again!)

Now I've got to get packed because I'm leaving for Iowa tommorow. I'm going to stay with an Old Order Amish family over fall break. I've never been to Iowa so I'm a little scared, but excited that I'll finally have a chance to really get to know some Amish folks. Don't worry, I'll tell you all about it when I get back!

Where did I leave off?

The paper is FINISHED. (well, I mean it's the first completed draft but for our immediate purposes, it's done.) Sure glad that's off my shoulders.

My visit to the New Order Amish in North Carolina was lovely. The bishop there is so friendly and helpful! He took me all around the neighborhood showing me Amish houses and the school and the church building and explaining how they do things and why. He took me to visit an Amish-run general store and a jam factory, as well as to see some friends who are building a new house. He also told me all about his business. It was wonderful to see how each one of his sons, from the oldest married son to the little 7-yr-old, had an important task to perform at the shop. They are so family-centric! It's beautiful.

Ah yes, the Christian training. It was great. God is amazing. And so is the book of Ephesians - you really should read it. (hey it's only six chapters long!) But it was rough - we had a tight schedule from 6:30 in the morning to 10:30 at night! I imagine it's a bit like what boot camp feels like. But I appreciated the discipline, Lord knows I need it.

Then, after half a week of recuperation and preparation, off we went (my dad and I) to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Now that was an unforgettable experience. I don't even know how to describe it. That's why I uploaded a bunch of pictures:

Here's an Amish farm. The Lancaster farms all look about like this, big and white with silos, but you can tell the Amish ones by the Amish clothes on a line stretched between the buildings way up high like a banner, plus the absence of electrical accoutrements and motor vehicles.

This first picture shows two Amish boys mowing the lawn. the Amish do not believe in posing for pictures because a) they believe it's a violation of the commandment against graven images, and b) they believe it would be a show of pride to display your own image or that of your family. However, I've heard that they don't care if a photo is taken of them without their participation if they are unrecognizable in it. I felt a bit sneaky doing it though, so my few pictures of Amish people are blurry and far away.

     This Amish man is riding a scooter. Scooters are actually very popular among the Lancaster County Amish, because, as I heard from a local Mennonite man, the Ordenung in LC bans pneumatic tires in any transportational device that is not pushed. Thus, bicycles are not allowed but scooters are. Tractors have metal wheels; this prevents them from being used for road transportation.

Speaking of transportation, here's a typical Lancaster County Amish buggy. It's made of fiberglass, generally. This particular buggy is parked outside the Gordonville Book Shop, which is a great Amish book store and printing company. I made several trips and spent a long time there pouring over the books. They sold Amish-written books, older books reprinted only by the Amish (they like a lot of the moralistic primers and such from the 18th century,) books written about the Amish, and books written by conservative Mennonites and other conservative Christians. There was a lot of Pennsylvania German and High German...it has a really rich look because of the Gothic font...

I also saw a lot of Amish women and girls there. They often hire vans to take them longer distances, or when taking the whole family. It was such a picture when this van pulled up and this string of sisters poured out, maybe eight or ten of them, from late teens to toddlers...with their identical dresses in all different shades....they reminded me of flowers...

Aagh! it's late in the day and I have to finish packing...I'm moving onto campus tomorrow! Well here, I'll just caption the rest of these pictures. You'll have to use your imagination for the details...

 
This is what happened on the way to meet Dr. Kraybill. Dad and I were the first on the scene, he saved some cows while I called 911... 

Me at the end of that day. Man was I tired.