Procrastination

I have a midterm at 6:50pm tonight, but instead I am blogging. This is fairly typical of me. I figure, I still have a good 6 hours before I have to take that test - that's plenty of time. Nevermind the fact that I still have to shower, I will want to eat dinner, and undoubtedly some various other things will continue to distract me, so that in the end I will have about 2 solid hours of studying - if I'm LUCKY - under my belt before the test comes.

The good news is that I am fairly comfortable with the information. The class is research methods, and I've done all the reading, been to all the classes, understood all the concepts. I've even taken the midterm already - my teacher gave us the midterm as a "pre-test" at the beginning of the semester, and without even learning any of the concepts I got a fairly good score (I forget the exact score but I think it was above a 70). So, I'm not that concerned. I say this mostly for my father, who occasionally reads my blog and always gets on me when I talk about procrastinating at school - Dad, though I have not put a lot of studying into this particular exam TODAY, I am familiar with the material because I have been studying it ALL SEMESTER. Please do not worry your pretty little head :-)

Onto more pressing matters. The Red Sox lost in the first round of the playoffs - they got SWEPT. Unbelieveable. I would be more upset except that I think it's been somewhat of a blessing being away from Boston and all the other people who would be upset. Though I was pretty mad that all the people in the bar I was at cheered when the Sox lost - damn Yankee fans. Your team didn't make it, either! It's probably good that the Sox lost, anyway, because now I don't have to be preoccupied with baseball for the entire month of October... not like Soxtober last year where I lived, ate, and breathed the Red Sox for a solid month - it was even supported, if not fueled by, both places where I worked. People who aren't from Boston don't understand the fever with which we are fans. You may think you are a fan of a team, and that's fine. You like them a lot, you cheer for them, you catch a game on TV and maybe occasionally make it to the stadium. That's normal, and that's okay. Not so in Boston, particularly with the Red Sox. You don't miss a game unless it's absolutely necessary. If you do miss a game, it's against Kansas City or the Devil Rays (though that's tough because despite being TB, they are still in our division) and you are probably looking for the score online or via text message from somebody, especially if you have an ace on the mound. Your mood fluctuates with winning and losing, if only temporarily. Your are Jimmy Fallon from Fever Pitch - I have been told this on countless occasions, and I admit that I am actually proud to be accused of such. People who aren't from Boston think that we're crazy, and maybe we are. But, for a town that thrives on three things - religion (particularly catholicism), politics, and sports - and don't EVER mix those three - being a fan takes on a whole new dimension. It's not a game, and it's not a pasttime. It's a passion. As I don't relate to catholicism all that much, I once equated my love of the Red Sox as my own religion (my mom would be proud). I said that, in my undying devotion to a team that brings me so much joy and so much anguish, I am giving myself to something that is much larger in me, something that I don't have any control over. The Pope, Theo Epstein, and his Cardinals John Henry and Tom Werner often make decisions affecting us in the Red Sox Nation, but agree or disagree, we are always devout. We know that in the end it is not in our hands or theirs either, but in some higher power - that faith and prayer may bring you to Eden, but that everything happens for a reason and you must also learn to deal with hardship and tough times.

Before I am labeled a heretic and burned in Salem, I will stop. Until next year, boys. For now, it's time to study.

Busy!

I haven't blogged in awhile, obviously, and my last blog was so thoroughly depressing that I feel like I need to turn things around here a bit! So, what have I been doing besides blogging? What have I been thinking? How have I been feeling?

The truth is, I've had SO MUCH going on that not only do I not have time to sit down and blog (mostly because I should usually be doing something more constructive with my time), but when I do sit down I don't even know where to begin.

Let's start with my volunteering. I'm working at the YMCA helping to coach soccer to 2 groups of kids: 4-5 year olds, and 6-9 year olds. I only help - there are 3 or 4 people who do most of the coaching, one of whom is my roommate, but the volunteers are there to help set up drills, keep the kids on task, etc. This Saturday, though, all the coaches except one were missing. Somehow I got volunteered to step in and coach one of the groups of kids, and ultimately I ended up with the most troublesome kids. What is THAT all about?? I didn't care - in fact, I was flattered and I had a great time - but how did I get picked for that? It wasn't even like someone asked me - one of the girls turned to me and said, "So, I don't know if you have any activities planned, because I wasn't really sure what to do with the kids today. Any suggestions?" And then the person who runs the program said, "You're going to take the smiley group and I'll take the star group today, is that okay?" So I took my little smiley's, the 5 year olds, and off we went trying to dribble and shoot and play some semblance of soccer. It was crazy but it was fun. I would like to send a shout-out here to all the teachers I know - bless you, it is not easy.

I finally watched the movie Crash this weekend. I had high expectations of it from what I'd heard, and I was not disappointed. It made me so uncomfortable I was fidgeting for half the movie, but I really thought they did a great job with it. I definitely recommend it, but make sure you are not looking for a "pick-me-up" when you do because it's pretty intense. It was one of those films where I just heaved this huge sigh when it was all over and had to take a moment to reflect. I also watched Under the Tuscan Sun this weekend, which if you're looking for a happy movie, is fantastic! Yes, it's cheesy and romantic and funny, but I forgot how much I really enjoyed it the first time I'd seen it - there are so many great lessons and quotes in it.

I have been thinking a bit about the statement, "the personal is political." I know today the new nominee was announced for the Supreme Court, and I know John Roberts was confirmed, and I know there is a battle being waged (again) over gay marriage in my home-state of MA, and all of this affects me. Under normal circumstance, I care. I care a lot. I research and I learn and I know all sides of an issue and then I weigh in on it. I have written in blogs past about politics, and specifically about the nomination of John Roberts. These are things that affect me and I should know about and have a say in. But, lately, I just don't care. It's sad and awful somehow to say that I'm much too busy to get involved in it all, but it's true. I almost feel irresponsible for saying that - like I'm selfish somehow for not taking the time to do my civic duty and remain informed. The truth is, right now I have too many other things in my own life to focus on. I have to be okay with that. I guess there is a time and place to jump into the political arena, and a time and place to put yourself and your own life first. I don't know if I can say with certainty that they are truly separate entities - much of what happens in the government and in politics in this country directly affects my life and my personhood - but, there is a point where you have to make that separation and do what's best for you. Perhaps that is when someone else steps it up for you, takes your place for a little while...

Tangent. Well, a lot of my blogs are tangents, but what are you going to do. Hey, the Red Sox are in the post-season and that's all that matters!! =^) GO SOX!!! Until next time, dear bloggers...