Planning for the Future

I spent the afternoon avoiding my mountainous homework and instead looked at Terminus programming and argued with you about college. And this whole “after Terminus I don’t know when I’ll ever see you again” thing is bothering me.

It’s bothering me a lot.

It bothered me enough, in fact, that I looked up my school schedule for Brandeis to see when I’ll have free for the next, oh… year and a half or so.

As you can see, I’m rather determined.

In October (11-14), we have a long weekend off for Columbus Day; this is a good opportunity for a Boston college tour with parentals. And I know you’re all “East is for liberals, I’m going to Ohio U” but seriously, a visit couldn’t hurt.

My winter break is massive, from December 19 to January 12. Granted, you’ll be in Seattle(?) for New Years, but come on. That is a significant window.

We have a random break in February (Midterm Recess? What is this magic?) from the 16th to the 20th (or 14th to the 22nd, depending on if weekends count) and I don’t know whether I’d be in Princeton or Boston for that, but… yeah. Opportunity.

Spring Break is April 9th to 16th (which are Thursdays, which I think is weird), and then I’m out of school May 9th.

LeakyCon (yeah, yeah, you’re a Mugglenet person, I know) is in Boston May 21-24; Level 2, the HPEF con, is in San Jose July 23-26, and I don’t think a Narrate conference has been announced (yet). As the Portus/Terminus thing showed, it’s hard to tell until, like, the winter before whether one or the other will be more popular.

But mostly the moral of the story is, uh, get your ass over here.

EDIT:

[2:49:07 PM] Leah says: okay, so my mom always told me to stay well away from Roger Williams University in RI because it’s crazy conservative
[2:49:14 PM] Leah says: IT HAS A CREATIVE WRITING MAJOR.
[2:49:14 PM] Marlena says: OOOH
[2:49:17 PM] Marlena says: HAYLEY
[2:49:47 PM] Marlena says: I’m not allowed to major in Creative Writing.
[2:49:50 PM] Leah says: but
[2:49:51 PM] Leah says: uh
[2:49:59 PM] Leah says: I do mean CRAZY conservative
[2:50:01 PM] Leah says: “In 2004, Roger Williams became a focus of attention when the Roger Williams University College Republicans offered a “Whites Only” scholarship. Applicants were invited to submit photos and a paper describing what being white means to them. The organization, which had hosted several conservative speakers on campus, including David Horowitz and Ann Coulter, became the focus of international media attention. Death threats against the College Republican leadership were received, necessitating extra security. The winner of the scholarship donated the $500 scholarship to charity.[3]

The scholarship created controversy because many saw this act as racist. The College Republicans argued, however, that it was meant to parody and protest affirmative action. The application even said: “Evidence of bleaching will disqualify applicants.” [4]

In a subsequent protest against the Vagina Monologues, members donned a six foot penis costume and advertised for their own “Penis Monologues” outside the student union. Again, this brought the RWU College Republicans to the attention of conservative media outlets.[5]

Due to their actions, the College Republicans were condemned by Rhode Island’s Republican Party, and are no longer allowed to use a capital “R” in their name. They also cannot use the national symbol of the Republican Party, the elephant. Additionally, the organization had their university recognition revoked until the end of the 2005–2006 academic year due to violations of institutional policy.”
[2:50:17 PM] Adam says: sorry that didn’t help. just confusing
[2:50:29 PM] Lucy Walsh says: oh well
[2:50:30 PM] Marlena says: oh
[2:50:32 PM] Marlena says: EW
[2:50:38 PM] Leah says: yeah.
[2:50:43 PM] Leah says: but… progress…. kinda.
[2:50:52 PM] Marlena says: ..yeah
[2:50:59 PM] Leah says: but the point is
[2:51:08 PM] Leah says: if there are republican schools in rhode island
[2:51:12 PM] Lucy Walsh says: shit. I have to be in tennis in 10 minutes
[2:51:17 PM] Leah says: there are some in Massachusettes
[2:51:18 PM] Lucy Walsh says: later!
[2:51:23 PM] Adam says: bye!
[2:51:24 PM] Leah says: we just need to find them.
[2:51:28 PM] Marlena says: yes! Hope springs eternal
[2:52:51 PM] Sarah Keeeeeeeler says: Leah:
[2:52:54 PM] Sarah Keeeeeeeler says: Grove City College (Grove City, Pennsylvania)
In general, most undergrads at Grove City College are “white, suburban, Christian Republicans.” These kids are the ones “who would ask, ‘What are hallucinogens?’” one student explains. A prominent group comprises “the normal, Nalgene bottle-carrying, Christian summer camp-working, service-oriented students.”
[2:53:02 PM] Marlena says: hahaha
[2:53:04 PM] Sarah Keeeeeeeler says: Pennsylvania
[2:53:06 PM] Sarah Keeeeeeeler says: is east
[2:53:10 PM] Leah says: but still far.
[2:53:26 PM] Marlena says: Not as far as Ohio
[2:53:33 PM] Leah says: how close is it to etown?
[2:53:37 PM] Leah says: we’ll lure her with Lauren.
[2:53:47 PM] Sarah Keeeeeeeler says: not too far
[2:53:59 PM] Sarah Keeeeeeeler says: probably a bus or train ride away

EDIT TO THE EDIT:

[2:57:16 PM] Sarah Keeeeeeeler says: Marymount is pretty conservative
[2:57:21 PM] Sarah Keeeeeeeler says: she could just come here
[2:57:23 PM] Leah says: but you aren’t staying
[2:57:28 PM] Sarah Keeeeeeeler says: yeah, I am
[2:57:34 PM] Leah says: tour.
[2:57:36 PM] Sarah Keeeeeeeler says: if they give me more scholarship money
[2:57:43 PM] Leah says: lol
[2:57:43 PM] Sarah Keeeeeeeler says: probably not getting the tour
[2:57:48 PM] Leah says: D=
[2:57:56 PM] Sarah Keeeeeeeler says: anyway the tour would be just be this year
…
[3:00:19 PM] Sarah Keeeeeeeler says: there’s also the New School which has both conservative and liberal students… and a really good writing program
[3:00:31 PM] Sarah Keeeeeeeler says: but it’s not a typical “university” style education
[3:00:44 PM] Sarah Keeeeeeeler says: haha I like how we’re searching for colleges for Hayley
[3:00:57 PM] Leah says: hrpm.
[3:00:58 PM] Marlena says: I love that John is John “Dawlish” Noe in the description for the PC panel
[3:01:00 PM] Leah says: *hrmph.
[3:01:19 PM] Leah says: I like how I corrected spelling on a grunt

BLAGGITY BLAG. (“blah blah I miss you”)

I’s back, talking to you even though you’re technically still around!

So… I saw you this weekend.

On the one hand (the massive, awesome, God-like hand) it was pretty much one of the best weekends of my life and it was amazing and we got to sing along to musicals and make up stupid inside jokes and and and get your face out of my fruit bowl.

But on the other hand… granted, this is the shriveled, miniscule, infected hand, but… in a way I almost regret it.

Until now, we’ve always had, you know, the internet and phones. We already know what comes with that as far as touching and hugging and elsing, but aside from that, one accepts certain limits. I accepted that you don’t always reply to texts, that you have a life and no laptop and you can’t be online all the time, whatever.

After spending like 40 straight hours with you, accepting the fact that I can’t communicate with you constantly fucking sucks. That’s what sucks worst. I can live without your face and your car and your hugs and your hamburgers.

But it’s your brain I miss most of all, Scarecrow.

People are being crazy in scones

and I miss you and I tried to say this to them and no one was listening.

So.

As you know, I read The Catcher in the Rye last weekend, at your behest. As you also know, I loved it.

The cover bothers me.

I know we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover blah blah whatever. But, like… wtf random horsey? Unless there’s some magical symbolism thing I don’t know about. In which case, enlighten me.

But I keep thinking about this one fanartist I used to follow, Kristin Bergh. She went to Ringling for art school, and one of her assignments was to redesign the cover of a book. She chose The Giver (which I’m assuming you’ve read because you’ve read everything).

SO ANYWAY.

As you (should) know, the original cover of The Giver looks like this:

But Kristin didn’t like the old man face. Neither to I, really. And here’s what she came up with (follow the link to the original picture, wordpress is cutting off part of the right side):

 

I love that. I absolutely love that.

I wish I had the talent to do the same for Catcher.