Yesterday, I went to Iowa City with some friends. The six of us squeezed into a 5-seater, and began our journey by visiting Cedar Rapid's CSPS, which currently was showing four of Robert Wilson's Voom portraits.
I didn't really know what to expect by the portraits, but they're amazing. The portraits are live action, on some excellent and enormous digital TV screens. The actors on screen move, but very slowly. If you were just passing by, they would just look like a picture. But the videos are on a 20-25 minute loop as the actors move deliberately and slowly, sometimes as someone narrates in the background, sometimes with just music. In one, the world's championship sumo wrestler sits, wearing nothing but his sumo uniform, and slowly smiles. Slowly releases the smile. In another, a woman lays on a divan while a speech by Einstein plays in the background (I don't remember all of it, but it involves a dream about going grocery shopping, and only swimming caps were for sale, and then talk of the oceans). The woman clenches her hand, over the course of the speech. When her hand has clenched completely, she opens her eyes. It is the only time during the loop that she has her eyes open.
The portraits were a bit creepy, but striking. Maybe creepy just means I had nothing to compare it to. Anyway, the rest are in Iowa City, so we initiated step two of our plan: Iowa City. The Museum of Art turned out to be closed, so we moved onto our next step: David's Place. I had gone there as a freshman, and loved it. So I was pretty excited for another go around. It was wonderful. Tea, spongy bread, spicy red lentils, potatoes....mmmm..... we feasted. Afterwards, we had dessert and coffee in a nearby cafe, then returned to Cedar Rapids.
I was just in time for the musical, 3 Penny Opera. I liked it, except for when I couldn't understand the lyrics. That gets tricky. But the music sounded great, the set looked wonderful, and the timing of the acting (especially the gags) were usually spot on. I don't claim to be much of a theater critic, but I think they can be proud of that production.
Today was Easter. I spent most of the day at work, watching the snow fall. Of all things. A co-worker gave me a couple boiled eggs her grandkids had decorated, exactly the food I had been thinking about. It's a holiday tradition. If I am not home to make them or look for them, at least I can eat the finished product. So good.
Next weekend, Senate is having Tomasos Pizza. I'm making extra sure my schedule remains open for this.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Spring break in Iowa
There's nothing like a week devoid of all the regular distractions to make you feel somehow purified yet somewhat... incomplete. It was especially odd living in my dorm room while classes weren't in session.
I had decided to stay at Coe because it would be easier to get ahead on my homework, and I could work extra hours at my job. I will be in either Turkey or China this summer, so I need as much money as possible. So I stocked up on spaghetti and yogurt, and commenced.
The best part (or the worst, depending on your point of view) was that everyone with a car had used them to drive home, or to Chicago, or San Francisco (they had no idea what they were missing, obviously). So I did a lot of walking, and made some pretty great discoveries of downtown CR.
The Saigon Market, for one. I didn't go inside, but I have heard positive reviews of the Asian commodities available in the store. It's conveniently located next to Phong Lan, a Vietnamese restaurant. I took a friend there on Saturday, and it was delicious.
Waypoint. Not sure why I'm happy to have found this particular resource for women in need. I think I'd like to volunteer there. Being within walking distance is definitely a plus.
The Cedar Rapids Public Library. I went there for a International Women's Day Diversity workshop. Its less than a block from where I work, hidden behind corporate art and the Greyhound bus station. I'm going back today actually, thanks to a tip from a coworker that even though I didn't make any taxable wages last year, I can still fill out a tax form and get a stimulus package (little do they know, I'm planning on spending it in China). The workshop was alright. I think I might have learned some new things, who knows.
The Universe. A bar which advertises drag shows.
A dilapidated three story house, ivy covering the walls, broken window panes covered with wood, except for one that may have had curtains, or pieces of colored glass. It had a name over the front porch, most of the letters ready to fall off: "The Palace." (note to self: bring my camera along more often)
I suppose it's because this area is in between two major hospitals in town, but I found countless doctor's offices throughout here. One stairway that goes nowhere (the house attached to it must have been torn down), several empty lots, one office divided into two parts. One half was a real estate agency, the other was empty. A sign by the same real estate agency said it was for sale. I doubt that's the best way to advertise yourself, if you can't even sell the office right next to you.
Iowa landscape is really hard to photograph. You need a wide angle lens to really show the long, low, horizon lines. My camera really won't cut it. I was up fairly early in the morning to cover some shifts at work (one started at 6:00, another at 7:30). It's almost like being in a ghost town. Stray off of first avenue, and the empty lots are ubiquitous, the gaping storefronts lining the street, still with 50s-esque signs in the windows. Something in me wants to claim The Palace for my own. Squat there, start restoring it to some of its former glory (I would keep the lettering out front as is). The houses on either side of it had long since been torn down, and it faces that real estate confusion I mentioned before. Almost like it's the locus of orphaned buildings.
I hope this doesn't sound like I felt lonely over break. There were a few times where the solitude got a bit oppressive, but on the whole, I liked puttering around on my own, having my own schedule, getting things accomplished (Professor Barrow isn't going to know what hits her when I hand in all my response papers and microcase assignments. Hehehe).
Also, I've decided on a thesis topic. I want to cover current efforts to create wilderness areas, as well as some background info on what legislation is in place to help or hinder that, court decisions, and some philosophical inquiries into what wilderness is, and if creating these areas are justified (Dad, I might need your help). I'm excited. Maybe I can do some "research" in Ely. Hm. Hmmm....
I had decided to stay at Coe because it would be easier to get ahead on my homework, and I could work extra hours at my job. I will be in either Turkey or China this summer, so I need as much money as possible. So I stocked up on spaghetti and yogurt, and commenced.
The best part (or the worst, depending on your point of view) was that everyone with a car had used them to drive home, or to Chicago, or San Francisco (they had no idea what they were missing, obviously). So I did a lot of walking, and made some pretty great discoveries of downtown CR.
The Saigon Market, for one. I didn't go inside, but I have heard positive reviews of the Asian commodities available in the store. It's conveniently located next to Phong Lan, a Vietnamese restaurant. I took a friend there on Saturday, and it was delicious.
Waypoint. Not sure why I'm happy to have found this particular resource for women in need. I think I'd like to volunteer there. Being within walking distance is definitely a plus.
The Cedar Rapids Public Library. I went there for a International Women's Day Diversity workshop. Its less than a block from where I work, hidden behind corporate art and the Greyhound bus station. I'm going back today actually, thanks to a tip from a coworker that even though I didn't make any taxable wages last year, I can still fill out a tax form and get a stimulus package (little do they know, I'm planning on spending it in China). The workshop was alright. I think I might have learned some new things, who knows.
The Universe. A bar which advertises drag shows.
A dilapidated three story house, ivy covering the walls, broken window panes covered with wood, except for one that may have had curtains, or pieces of colored glass. It had a name over the front porch, most of the letters ready to fall off: "The Palace." (note to self: bring my camera along more often)
I suppose it's because this area is in between two major hospitals in town, but I found countless doctor's offices throughout here. One stairway that goes nowhere (the house attached to it must have been torn down), several empty lots, one office divided into two parts. One half was a real estate agency, the other was empty. A sign by the same real estate agency said it was for sale. I doubt that's the best way to advertise yourself, if you can't even sell the office right next to you.
Iowa landscape is really hard to photograph. You need a wide angle lens to really show the long, low, horizon lines. My camera really won't cut it. I was up fairly early in the morning to cover some shifts at work (one started at 6:00, another at 7:30). It's almost like being in a ghost town. Stray off of first avenue, and the empty lots are ubiquitous, the gaping storefronts lining the street, still with 50s-esque signs in the windows. Something in me wants to claim The Palace for my own. Squat there, start restoring it to some of its former glory (I would keep the lettering out front as is). The houses on either side of it had long since been torn down, and it faces that real estate confusion I mentioned before. Almost like it's the locus of orphaned buildings.
I hope this doesn't sound like I felt lonely over break. There were a few times where the solitude got a bit oppressive, but on the whole, I liked puttering around on my own, having my own schedule, getting things accomplished (Professor Barrow isn't going to know what hits her when I hand in all my response papers and microcase assignments. Hehehe).
Also, I've decided on a thesis topic. I want to cover current efforts to create wilderness areas, as well as some background info on what legislation is in place to help or hinder that, court decisions, and some philosophical inquiries into what wilderness is, and if creating these areas are justified (Dad, I might need your help). I'm excited. Maybe I can do some "research" in Ely. Hm. Hmmm....
Monday, February 18, 2008
Exploding tonsils and Applesauce
My tonsils and I have an interesting history. A few years ago, they first demonstrated their ability to make my life miserable just before a trip to Mexico (and by that I mean a mission trip I didn't want to go to in the first place, so.... thanks God?). To this day, the best explanation I ever got was "tonsillitis." It wasn't an abscess (as I painfully found out in the Duluth hospital), nor strep throat, nor mono. But I did lose the ability to talk. I also discovered codeine makes me vomit. On the upside, Dad and I bonded for that week. Mom and Laura were in Mexico, and I needed someone to make me blended food and other such delightful things.
My next reminder of tonsil existence was the return flight to Nicaragua. A sore throat turned into a swollen throat. Changes in air pressure through 3 connections did not help. People gave me a wide berth as I looked more and more miserable, and (as I heard later from my 11 year old cousin) rather....odoriferous. This time, it was strep throat, so I spent three days in St. Paul with my uncle, chowing down on ibuprofen and watching action movies. One tonsil refused to return to normal size.
And then can this weekend. A sore throat turned into excruciating pain. No strep throat. I was prescribed a salt water gargle by the college nurse. Hmm. For some reason, I decide to cover someone else's 8 hour shift. I spend it eating double dosages of high strength Excedrin. I know Kyle has Vicodin, but I have too much pride to ask (and he was never in his room. But still...lots of pride). Walking to work on Saturday, I cry. Walking back from work, I cry. I spend the rest of the day eating applesauce and benadril in Clarissa's room, who also makes me soup, crackers, and milk. I am pleased, but still in incredible amounts of pain.
And then...Sunday morning... I take a sip of water, and something...pops. My mouth is flooded with pus, blood, and mucus. The pain leaves almost immediately, and I rejoice in the bathroom, spitting out my left tonsil's excrement. Although the discomfort is gone, I decide it's not worth going to work. After eating an omelet in the caf (delicious and pain free!) , Clarissa and Bailey tell me I should probably go to the hospital. After meeting a rapid succession of roughly 7 nurses and doctors, all with their own specialty (to woman who fills out the form on the computer, the other woman who draws blood, the man who feels my tonsils with very little warning, etc), I am prescribed penicillin, steroids, and painkillers.
Danielle and I make a trip to Hy-Vee for applesauce, milk, soup, and drugs. The drugs only cost $19.99, and the soup is on sale: 8 for $10. The Mediterranean food at the Writing Center party that night tastes delicious. I do nothing all day except glory in my fully functioning mastication system.
Still. Tonsils. Why?
Monday, February 4, 2008
February is far too eventful
Happy:
Chinese New Year
Vietnamese New Year
Korean New Year
Lent
Black History Month
Valentine's Day
Groundhog Day
Abraham Lincoln's Birthday
President's Day
George Washington's Birthday
I'm not exactly sure how I plan on celebrating all these things. Listen to patriotic music with ash on my forehead, a stuffed groundhog under one arm and a 4th grade style "You're 'beary' cute" card in the other? Maybe some small denomination Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese currency to hand out as good luck gifts? Read The Invisible Man?
Overwhelming. Maybe I'll just take a nap.
Friday, January 25, 2008
My inner nostrils are frozen
Among other interesting things.
I am experiencing a strange shift in perception. It was incremental, not altogether foreseen, and I am perhaps slightly sheepish.
Caf food=good.
Now, don't get riled up. There's a lot behind this statement. First of all, this is the only time in my life where guaranteed food, of various varieties, is less than a 5 minute walk from my domicile. Second, I never have to prepare the food myself, which means it never gets burnt, rotten, rancid, or moldy. Third, I pay for the merest fraction of the actual cost, thanks to Coe's hefty endowment.
This philosophy has extended to the rest of campus, where I enjoy convenient computer access, ample heating, a library is just outside my "apartment," three low intensity part time jobs that don't make me go insane, and of course all the deep thoughts whirling through the air. This is a truly odd part of my life.
In other news, the temperature has reached record lows. Literally. This is the coldest Cedar Rapids has been since they started measuring the temperature. Frostbite is a possibility.
Yet we manage to keep our spirits up. Select individuals from 9th floor Murray and associates could be seen romping in the snow last Saturday night, as well as engaging in the making of snow angels and possible allusions to whirling dervishes. At one point, said associates were joined by fellow rompers leaving Peterson Hall. I kid you not, we joined hands in brotherhood and we spun. Semi-heathen rituals have never been so enjoyable.
I am experiencing a strange shift in perception. It was incremental, not altogether foreseen, and I am perhaps slightly sheepish.
Caf food=good.
Now, don't get riled up. There's a lot behind this statement. First of all, this is the only time in my life where guaranteed food, of various varieties, is less than a 5 minute walk from my domicile. Second, I never have to prepare the food myself, which means it never gets burnt, rotten, rancid, or moldy. Third, I pay for the merest fraction of the actual cost, thanks to Coe's hefty endowment.
This philosophy has extended to the rest of campus, where I enjoy convenient computer access, ample heating, a library is just outside my "apartment," three low intensity part time jobs that don't make me go insane, and of course all the deep thoughts whirling through the air. This is a truly odd part of my life.
In other news, the temperature has reached record lows. Literally. This is the coldest Cedar Rapids has been since they started measuring the temperature. Frostbite is a possibility.
Yet we manage to keep our spirits up. Select individuals from 9th floor Murray and associates could be seen romping in the snow last Saturday night, as well as engaging in the making of snow angels and possible allusions to whirling dervishes. At one point, said associates were joined by fellow rompers leaving Peterson Hall. I kid you not, we joined hands in brotherhood and we spun. Semi-heathen rituals have never been so enjoyable.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Rocketships and Masking Tape
I tapped into my inner child this weekend. Select members of 9th floor Murray had an early breakfast of waffles and ice cream before beginning an epic journey of cardboard mastery. I will say our rocketship (The Darling Clementine) was a success, as long as you keep in mind nostalgic memories of childhood architecture. One of the fins, stabilized by cardboard ribs and wishful thinking, succumbed to gravity. The booster however was a resounding success, as well as the cockpit.
This all began when I finished moving in everything that had been dormant for over a year in the Coe College storage facility. It was odd to see what I thought was necessary to save (empty CD cases, scraps of paper, Judy Garland stickers...), and a bit distressing to remember what I had in fact left at home (bedsheets). However, one of the boxes was big enough for 9th floor's rocketship dreams.
Classes are stimulating. My Intro to Political Science class is frightfully large. And I turned in my Turkey application, although I won't hear anything until late March. It's a bit anticlimatic (Whoopee...).
This all began when I finished moving in everything that had been dormant for over a year in the Coe College storage facility. It was odd to see what I thought was necessary to save (empty CD cases, scraps of paper, Judy Garland stickers...), and a bit distressing to remember what I had in fact left at home (bedsheets). However, one of the boxes was big enough for 9th floor's rocketship dreams.
Classes are stimulating. My Intro to Political Science class is frightfully large. And I turned in my Turkey application, although I won't hear anything until late March. It's a bit anticlimatic (Whoopee...).
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Hardcoreitude
flakes
Today's my first at college. It's been fairly underwhelming. Nothing is all that surprising, except that I don't know anyone. All my friendswere upperclassmen, and they've either graduated or hid themselves away in the apartments. Hell, I don't even know my roommate. She seems nice though. AND has a hello kitty toaster. Which I am allowed to use. Rockin'.
I've already had a memorable day. I went to my old job (its premises anyway) and re-applied. I found out beforehand that the Environmental Club lets students rent out bikes for free. So I took advantage of this opportunity to enjoy the warm January air by a faster mode of transportation than foot. And I could feel superior to all those air-haters in their automobiles. Mom had called me just before and asked me if it was sleeting. I scoffed. "It's gorgeous out mom, you're being ridiculous."
As I wheeled the bike onto 1st Ave however, the sky let loose. Enormous wet flakes whipped my face while I biked the mile over to the URrelay building, feeling even more superior than I did before.
For those who don't know (which is probably pretty much everyone who reads this blog), my New Year's Resolution is to buy nothing new for the entire year. Exceptions are:
* Medicine and Medical Attention (that isn't optional, like Botox)
* Food
* Cleaning supplies (detergent, deoderant, etc)
Everything else, I will just convince myself I don't need or I will shop at second hand stores. The idea is that I stop thinking as a consumer, as well as reducing the carbon trail of most of my goods.
Another recent change is I've become vegetarian. I'm anemic, so I'm not sure how this will work out. I'll probably binge on a steak once I start getting too lethargic. One Marie Hunt has purchased a small grill that can be used in a dorm room, apparently, so we're planning on getting organic steaks when the need arises. She is also cutting back on meat, but for completely different reasons.
Anyway, I'm officially a hippie. Hippie 2.0. Of course, like most suburbian hippies, I'm probably contradicting myself completely without even knowing it (Lattes are a food.....).
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