Inconvenient Addictions

So, somehow in the last week I managed to discover Season 1 of "24" in my aunt and uncle's stash and I am now addicted. Classes are done but for two fairly involved final research projects due at the end of next week--so suffice it to say, this is bad timing. I started watching it on Tue. night and I'm about 2/3 through the season already. With any luck, I'll just finish the season before the weekend's out and I'll be forced to spend more time on my papers. Not that I've been a complete slacker or anything--just maybe a bit more distracted than I should.

For one of my papers (for my Media in the Middle East class) I'm analyzing "Paradise Now," an independent, Palestinian film that came out in 2005 (I believe) that follows two young men in the West Bank through the 48 hours leading up to their role in a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv. It's intense but extremely well done, it doesn't condone violence or anything like that. You can get it at any Blockbuster. I would highly recommend it. My interest in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is growing in light of my recent courses and I will most likely be taking a history course on the Arab-Israeli conflict next quarter. I can't wait!

P.S. I'll be home in just over 1 week! Yay!

Thanksgiving!

Ok, so it's late and I have to get up early but I wanted to write a quick post to let everyone know how I'm doing. I was home for Thanksgiving and it was wonderful. More relaxing than I anticipated with the usual class schedule and load frequently preoccupying my thoughts and "free time." I decided to not let school stress me out and just get done what I could while enjoying my family and Courtney. It worked. Home felt like home and Courtney and I had some good chances to connect face to face for a change. It was different, but really good. Thank God for home!

I'm now back in Chicago, in my last week of classes! I have a final paper due tomorrow which is nearly done and two research projects and a re-write of my thesis proposal due by the end of next week. Then, my first quarter at the University of Chicago is behind me! These next two weeks will fly by I'm sure. Well, I need to get some sleep for my long, second-to-last day of class tomorrow! Cheers!

Further Proof

Having read Aaron's blog, I felt it my responsibility to provide further evidence for the greatness of this new album. Admittedly, it is a bit "over-produced" and "poppy." I feel almost guilty admitting to the fact that I thoroughly enjoy--but really I do! I have been following this band for about five years now. If nothing else, the song makes you want to move and it's fun--though not completely devoid of originality, talent, and that particular, jimmy-eat-world sound. I think it's great and I hope you do too.



Well, I should get back to my seemingly endless hours of reading and writing, haha. I hope this finds you all experiencing an amazing weekend!

Successful Firsts... err Seconds

Having developed an emotional, and subsequently expensive, attachment to my hair stylist/barber (can a woman be a barber?, is anyone called a barber anymore?) in Lincoln, I have avoided pursuing other means of a haircut since having moved to Chicago. And, there's no foreseeable change to that in sight understanding that I'll be able to go home periodically. Still, it's approaching 8 weeks since my last haircut and that presents problems. While my daily presentability is no longer contingent upon the inspection of an employer and a strict dress code, I'm in graduate school, not prison (though the feeling has to be remarkably similar from time to time). So, in my stubborn insistence to maintain the Lincoln 'stylist's' status as my own, I today ventured upon a personal endeavor to deal with the hair-on-ears problem--I took a trimmer to my own head. This being my first attempt since an early, elementary school blunder that completely removed a portion of my own bangs, I felt a remarkable sense of accomplishment at removing said problem without having to resort to a complete shaving of my head. Now, while the untrained observer may think the amount of hair actually removed in the process was at most negligible, I feel the problem was solved beautifully!