Wednesday, February 14, 2007

para honrar el dia de San Valentin

this is a poem I found posted on the door of someone who lives in my dorm. In honor of Saint Valentine's Day, I'll share it. It was located under a picture of a cartoon character they called "Mexemo". Poem + translation here:

Rosas son rojas
Violetas son azules
Azucar es dulce
Tengo muchas emociones...

"Roses are red
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet
I have a lot of emotions..."

Sorry, it's funnier if you know Spanish...but it makes me laugh every time :)

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

catherine steiner, tenant

As I wrote to my parents in an email, I am now the proud beneficiary of my first lease offer outside of the UM Housing system. Yayuh. We sign this week.

So, I look forward to being able to invite you all over to 6 1/2 Marshall Ct. beginning next fall. (Isn't the "6 1/2" sweet? I mean, we get a number and a half!) Perhaps the Misses Andrea Bachman, Rachel Proulx and myself will host a housewarming party...look for an invite. It's the cutest little 2nd floor apartment: 3 bedrooms, a nice sunny kitchen, dining and living room space, plus all the little houses in the Court are coordinated in terms of paint color! And rent is fair!
I want to cook for you all (amidst the busy-ness of student teaching, etc.).

It's not furnished: if you're in the Ann Arbor area and you have any furniture (couches, tables) in decent condition that you'd like to give away (or are willing to sell at a college-student-reasonable-price), let me know!

Friday, December 15, 2006

...but wait, there's more!

as if the countdown wasn't enough, we have a great commencement speaker to look forward to!

'U' taps Bill Clinton for April commencement speech

and to think I was thinking about skipping out on all that...
[credit to jopan for the post idea]

Monday, December 11, 2006

countdown!

Not to distract from impending exams, but for those of you UM seniors who will be graduating in April, here's a link to the countdown (they even have seconds!!):

http://alumni.umich.edu/relocation/ReloSenior.php

have fun with yet *another* procrastination tool...

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

relieved!

I got out of jury duty!

snowfall

ad·vent /ˈædvɛnt/
–noun
1. a coming into place, view, or being; arrival: the advent of the holiday season.
2. arrival that has been awaited (especially of something momentous)

I love the snow. I loved the advent of snow today. As Carole reminded me today, so does my Dad. I always remember when I was younger he would quote the verse in Isaiah (1:18) in which God says "Come now, let us reason together...Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."
I didn't appreciate the verse then as much as I do now...I remember several times mentally rolling my eyes when the first snowfall would come, knowing that the verse would be quoted again as soon as he saw it falling. But, as I get older (ha ha, at the ripe old age of 21), I am glad that he repeated the verse. When I saw the snow falling this morning, the first thing that came to mind was that verse, and how amazing it is that God forgives the deepest, darkest stains. It's pretty neat to be able to see fresh snow as an example of how spotless we've been made because He washed us.
Thanks Dad & Mom (I know you read my blog :), for "training up your children in the way they should go"...we have not departed from it.

In other news, I've been called up for jury duty to begin on December 26th. I'm trying to get out of it since I'm planning on leaving the next day to go to Urbana 2006 in St. Louis, MO (you should go too!). I don't see why I should have a problem getting out of it since a) I'm a student, b) I have plans during that time and c) I don't own a car that I'd be able to drive to Detroit every day (yay not having to pay insurance...yet) Prayers are always good though. It's kind of a stinker. I'd actually really like to sit in on a jury (I think), but this just pretty much isn't the right timing. I've gotten all sorts of suggestions about how to "get myself out" on the day they interview me. My faves?
a) act super-conservative
b) act super-liberal
c) dye your hair bright pink and spike it (thanks Carole); optional nose ring
d) tell 'em you believe anyone charged should be convicted
e) tell 'em you believe anyone charged should be let off the hook
f) don't tell them you're a University of Michigan student

Thursday, November 30, 2006

to cell, or not to cell?

In thinking about how to practically apply some not-so-thouroughly-explored thoughts about American society and its emphasis on instant gratification/individualism, as well as reading a superb article by one of my favorites, Lauren Winner, I'm thinking about the possibility of giving up cell phone/ipod/facebook usage for a week (maybe longer?). Completely. I admit I'm overanalyzing here, but...

What I think I might learn:
- to commit myself to being on time (I can't call last minute to say I'll be late)
- to enjoy anticipation/patience
- not to rely on music-listening as an "out" on days when I'm stressed
- (more) authentic ways of connecting with people - not checking up on them through a screen, but face-to-face
- to appreciate silence (I kind of already do, but this is really, really hard to come by in a campus environment)
- to only spend "necessary" time on the computer (I wish I could give up parts of email too)
- to talk to God more
- hopefully much more.

What might be difficult:
- breaking habits
- communicating with people that they can't reach me by cell (will this sound selfish to them?)
- beating procrastination
- not allowing other "screen times" to spill over into what would otherwise be spent as time without cell/ipod/facebook