Friday, March 21, 2008

Bite the Bullet

Time for the cop-out of cop-outs. Bullet points on what’s been going on.

1)I didn’t get into the first three choices for graduate schools. This isn’t quite as disappointing as I imagined because a) I’ve spent months preparing for the news and b) there are all sorts of financial and logistical problems with relocating (which is what I would’ve had to do)this year. All three programs were in at least the top 25 in the country so very competitive. This doesn’t mean I have to stop trying, I’ve still got time in life, and if I’m persistent I’ll bet they might give me another shot. I was worried about being a little fish in a big pond also so all in all, not too bad.

2)I got a new job. I’m working for the county public library. It couldn’t have come any sooner—I actually broke down and bought five packs of Raman Noodles the night before I got the job. I haven’t eaten them and I hope I don’t have to.

3)To celebrate the new job and ease the blow of rejection letters I went on a spending spree at Borders. I bought the Bob Dylan Newport Folk Festival DVD and Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ‘72 by Hunter S. Thompson. I’ve always wanted to read this but never had the chance. Just judging by the introduction I think I’m going to love it. I watched the Bob Dylan from beginning to end last night. It seems more like an archival historical document than a concert film. This is the first time I’ve fully appreciated Joan Baez. She is absolutely beautiful and a little tough. She and Dylan together, at that age, are fascinating to watch, combining a mix of earnestness, confidence, wit, and innocence. I’m watching it again tonight.

4)I also downloaded the Talk to Me soundtrack from iTunes. This is a masterful mix of the golden age of R&B featuring Eddie Floyd, Sam and Dave, Otis Redding, Clarence Carter, and James Brown. Put it on the car stereo and turn it up. Instant mood elevation.

5)I’m worried about Obama. Lately the issue of race has come up on the campaign trail and it occurred to me how vulnerable the Illinois senator is to the crazy racists in our country. If history teaches us anything it is that hate can take the best men away from us, although I hope the generation that fought so hard against civil rights is starting to die off. I also hope that if I write about this concern I will make it null and void and nothing bad will happen. This is an instance where I really want to be wrong.

6)I’m on Facebook. Someone convinced me that you can’t live in this world without it. In a moment of weakness I believed them. I was on it for three hours that first night. I was able to find a couple of long lost souls out there so it definitely has its merits. It is a great networking tool they tell me.

7)The patio project 2008 is back on. I worked on it most of the day on Monday when I started putting down flagstone. It’s still kind of a mess but you can get the idea of what it will look like when it’s finished.

8)There is a hint, a rumor, and a ghost of a chance that I will be going to Africa in June. It will be 21 years since I was last there. This actually is the best development to come my way in while, but it is still up in the air so I won’t go into details yet. But everyone cross their collective fingers for me.

So that’s it for now. I’ll write a post with more insight next time.

Oh yea, I forgot, I went to Hooters last night. How's that for insight?



7 comments:

Emily Barton said...

Congratulations on the job! I fell in love with Joan Baez watching that Dylan documentary (was that Scorcese? I can't remember who directed that) and went out and bought a couple of her CDs, which are terrific. Fingers duly crossed for your trip to Africa.

IM said...

Emily, join facebook! You'll like it. Yes it was Scorcese. Thanks for crossing your fingers.

Richard said...

Congrats on the job! And on the Facebook too, of course.

IM said...

Richard, Cheers. I'm addicted to facebook. Hmmmm....

Anonymous said...

Yay for trying to get Emily on Facebook. I agree she should join. I will try and find you as well. Um, let's see - congrats on the new job, and the music sounds fabulous, and my fingers are crossed for your trip.

Anonymous said...

I always thought it would be so cool to work in a library, I spend half my life in one anyway. The admissions folks at those graduate schools are idiots. I am fascinated by the relationship between the young Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. Makes me want to listen to "Diamonds and Rust" over and over again. Facebook scares me but I joined to "monitor" my daughter's site. My sister is obsessed with getting more "friends." Calling your contacts on there "friends" was a bit of marketing genius. Africa sounds exciting, but dude, what's up with Hooters??

IM said...

Courtney, They're right, facebook is great. I hope I get to take the trip and thanks for crossing your fingers.

Thanks Danny, those admissions people ARE idiots aren't they? And I know I know about Hooters, a devious friend "twisted my arm" to go there despite the objectification of women and crappy food. Smacks of midlife crises doesn't it?