Andy

This afternoon, I went to go see the 3-D Double Feature of Toy Story 1 and 2 with my friend Danny; it... was... AWESOME. I haven't seen that movie in so long, and seeing a movie from my childhood in a movie theater was super cool. I can't wait for Where the Wild Things Are, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Fantastic Mister Fox, and Alice in Wonderland. They're all going to be awesome.

I've been listening to music pretty much nonstop since Friday; on my playlist:
Silver Jews
Bon Iver
She & Him
Bon Iver
Built Like Alaska
Andrew Bird
Viva Voce
Conor Oberst (and)
Cat Stevens

I have yet to go to the garden and play my guitar, but that's my goal for the week (on top of classes, finding the post office, going to Raley's to buy juice/milk, etc). I also want to sleep outside in the "secret garden" which is the little lawn and patio area between A-wing and B-wing that we have access to. I probably won't because it's getting hecka cold, but if I can get a ton of people to sleep out there one weekend, that would be cool.

I wrote my first paper this weekend; it wasn't much of a paper, only a one page synthesis of reading notes, lectures, and discussions, but it was enough to keep me occupied. It wasn't too hard, except for that Dr. Harvey didn't really give us any guidelines on format, just what he expected; I guess I wasn't expecting him to. Luckily, I brought my notes from Mrs. Asgill and Mr. Huth's class and used information that I had shoved in my brain from back then, and so it went smoothly. I hope it's adequate; I have four more of these types of papers to write for Doctor Harvey, plus two longer (research?) papers; three to go in philosophy, and three to go in Islam as well.

We're getting past the introductions in the Qur'an and actually starting to read passages, and I'm surprised to see the differences between the cultures then and now; the suras are meant for the peoples of the culture in which it was delivered, so when people read it now, they apply it to their own culture and time and think that whatever the Qur'an says is what goes, but really, it's not supposed to be that way completely. I don't know; I still have a lot to learn. I was talking to one person in my class, a devout Muslim, and we got to the topic of how to follow the religion, and this is what he told me: "For instance, pork. I don't eat pork because the religion says not to; I don't eat pork because it's a filthy animal." I don't eat pork either, but I don't think it's filthy. A pig won't eat itself to death, but a goat will; why pigs? why not goats? Anyway, it was intense to see someone other than the Christians I am used to in Turlock express their way of life so passionately.

Philosophy is weird. My mind isn't really working for that class; I understand what's going on, but my questions keep leading me in circles. I kind of think that's the point; after all, in Euthyphro, that's how Socrates leads Euthyphro: in circles. I'm afraid of writing an essay for that class, though, because I am afraid it will get me nowhere. I'm sure once we move onto the next text and I finally have something to compare it to, it will be easier.

I still have my Anthropology reading to do for tomorrow, and I was thinking about starting my Islam reading for Thursday.

I've been embroidering a lot; a patch and Papou's jacket (it finally says "Gus" again!), and next is my plain black dress. I'm still deliberating whether or not the black dress should have a deep-sea diving theme (scary fish that you don't really see, like angler fish); cartoony under-the-sea (happy octopus, squid versus whale, etc), or constellations, or piracy. So, yeah, if you want to make a suggestion, please do. I'd like to start it soon, though, so I can actually wear it.

Ummm.... yeah. I haven't been taking pictures yet, but I'm going to start real soon (as in, tomorrow?). So, yeah, I guess I'll be posting those.

Alright. I guess it's time to start my reading. I still miss Home, and can't stop that jealous feeling everytime I hear someone say, "I'm going home for the weekend," but it's getting easier to live here. Even though there is nothing to do. It's like Turlock (without cows and rivers), but five times bigger. =P