Kristin's Blanket...ain't she a beauty?

A Pattern of Aimlessness

The second question that everyone has asked me since I received my M.Litt is: "So what are you going to do now?" Good question. I have no idea. I have come up with lots of options: travel in South America, apply for grad school, apply for internships with environmental NGOs and/or the Smithsonian. I explained this and the fact that I have not actually acted upon any of these brilliant plans to my very successful and ambitious aunt, whose response was: "Marion, you need to stop wandering in this pattern of aimlessness." Very good advice but much easier said than done. For example, here I am writing on my blog when I should be finishing an application for an orphanage in Chile, which needs to be finished before the end of the year. I guess I should get on that...but first I will just relate some random stories that I found amusing during the Christmas break.

My dad got a bunch of Home Depot gift certificates for Christmas and suggested that I should paint my room. I told him about this organic paint I had read about in a magazine. He replied, "Why don't you just go down to the field, grind up some grass and put that on the wall?" I then told him the price per gallon and in trying to justify the price in his mind, he asked, "Can you lick it off the wall?" I must say he's been in a pretty good mood considering its the holidays and he believes himself to be the 21st century version of Ebenezer Scrooge.

The other day I was driving with my two brothers to pick up my grandma. At one point, I started to turn right instead of going straight toward to the freeway. My brothers hate any sort of deviations...they liked to get things done ASAP so they can get back to their computer games. To this day they refuse to go to any bookstore with me because one time I spent 45 minutes in Barnes and Noble (and I even made it a short trip out of consideration for them!). Anyway, they protested and I said we're going to Starbucks (or "arucks offe" as I think of it now after a bunch of drunk students stole some of the letters outside the store in St. Andrews). They asked, "why?" I said, "cuz I need some coffee...f***er!" The last part of that was directed to the driver in front of me who stopped at the green light. But I guess my brothers didn't pick up on that right away so Andrew just shrunk away from me and said "ok I can see you do really need your coffee."

9 to 5 blows

I always knew that to being a university student meant leading a sheltered existence. This truth became shockingly clear and relevant now that I am working as temp. Do I sound bitter? I hope so. Somehow I believed that employers would realize my potential and that all the hard won grades and papers would be evidence of my intellect and my ability to adapt, learn and produce. As both Jon and I have found out this is not so. Apparently they want people with "experience." "What does that even mean?!"

I don't want my first blog entry to be a complete rant though. At the same time I don't really know what else to talk about because finding a job/deciding my future is really all I have had on my mind of late. Plus it's rather discouraging to read blogs like Jules', which are much more interesting and entertaining. I will try anyway.

Good news though! I finished Kristin's blanket! For those of you who don't know, Kristin is part of the "Angus House Krew" (Eamonn's spelling) a group of people that lived in Angus House (and other places like the loverly Albany Park and "Stanley Sucks" House) in St. Andrews this past year. Unfortunately she was in a very bad car accident this past spring and has been in and out of hospitals in Scotland and Georgia. Right now shes at home recovering. Back in July my Beanscene (a local coffee shop) knitting group, consisting of myself, Jodi, Clare, Olley, Jodi's labmates and Eamonn (don't think you won't get away with not knitting....I think you should consider the following quote from Northern Exposure: "My masculinity isn't hinged on whether or not I knit" therefore knitting does not reflect upon your masculinity contrary to what Chris believes, Eamonn) decided that we, the Angus House Krew, should knit a blanket for Kristin with each person contributing one or more squares. We began with a dinner/knitting party and taught Olley, Jon, Chris and Joe how to knit. In the end we had 12 people contribute squares. And two nights ago I FINISHED IT! I will post a picture soon. I think it looks pretty sweet. You can decide for yourself. All I have left is to finish a photo album (Kristin has had some memory problems so we're hoping some pictures might cheer her up/jog her memory) and card to accompany it.

Other good news: I am going to visit my buddy Lizzie in Portland, Oregon in January. I have not seen Lizzie since June 2003 when last I was in St. Andrews as a JYA. I remember quite distinctly how we first met: in the drab dining hall of Andrew Melville during breakfast, the interior of which was brightened not by the florescent orange 70sfabulous carpeting but by the fact that we were due to move out that morning into plush New Hall (single ensuite rooms with double beds and TVs!). She has promised to take me to Powell's Bookstore, a very large used bookstore and needless to say I am very excited. Lizzie now works for the Energy Trust of Oregon, which looks like a pretty interesting operation, which you can check out here: http://www.energytrust.org/

I suppose I should now create a semblance of productivity...by reading The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I was so engrossed by the book at one point I almost forgot to answer the phone. And that would be in poor form considering that's the only thing they are paying me to do today.

More to come. This is much easier than keeping a journal. Famous last words.