Pride and Prejudice and What?

I am the first to admit that I went through a phase in high school where I read all of Jane Austin's classics as well as the Bronte sisters, completely lost in the romance of high English society, forever forming impossible standards for all real men to fall short of. While I still love Austin, I am not such a purist that I can't admit that Austin could be freshened up. Much to my delight, Seth Grahame-Smith also thought that Austin could be modernized and his product is the wonderful book Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

Yes, and Zombies...

When I heard about this book, the idea was so ludicrous that I absolutely had to get it. I read the book here and there over two days, and found it to be a lovely read. I often found myself actually laughing out loud at an unexpected and hilarious addition to the plot. A great majority of the book is the original text, (notice that Grahame-Smith is a co-author with Austin) although much condensed - with a generous sprinkling of zombie induced gore. Elizabeth, a strong character in the original, has a new depth of strength as she is a Shaolin trained zombie fighting ninja. As ridiculous as this might sound, the book is written in such as way that the zombie addition strengthens but does not change the characters original identity, and P&P&Z remains entirely true to the original main plot points, so don't worry about loss of integrity.

I will not try to explain the book only more, I will only say that for some people this is a must read - for others - save yourself the indignation. In order to help you figure out if this book is for you, I give you a list of those who should and should not read this book.

Those who should read P&P&Z:

1. Men - you may now read P&P without the demasculization, and with actual enjoyment.
2. People who tried to read P&P, but could never make it through - it's only 250 pages and has pictures!
3. Students required to read the original P&P - the ultimate spark notes
   
4. Austin Fanatics (with sense of humor) - you will appreciate this more than any others, the new twists will have you laughing darn hard.

Those who should not read P&P&Z:

1. Austin Fanatics (without sense of humor) - you will be irate about the "defiling of art"
   
2. Pretentious people - you'll consider this "base, uneducated humor" and be offended by America's dumbing down of the classics.

Enjoy!

Dreary Erie

I woke up this morning wondering if it was nice enough to take my bike to class, and as I look out the window what do I see? Snow. Ick. It's March 30th!

Oh well. I decided to embrace the weather since it is probably the last snow I will see for at least a year and a half, so I made a snowball and threw it at my friend.

Exponential Hilarity

Perhaps the best poem I've read in years. Thank you John Cleese.


Ode to Sean Hannity

Aping urbanity

Oozing with vanity
Plump as a manatee
Faking humanity
Journalistic calamity
Intellectual inanity
Fox Noise insanity
You’re a profanity
Hannity

Earth Hour

Yesterday from 8:30 to 9:30 local time, was Earth Hour. It's pretty sweet, the idea is that by having everyone participating turning off all lights for the hour, to show support for protecting the earth and a vote against global warming. Whole cites including San Fran and Sydney, where this whole thing started, dim the city lights to show support.

It was a fun experience, although as I was packing last night I was home alone - but it was a nice change of pace. I just lit a candle and read a book. Here's a little more on how it went this year.

Critics claim that by lighting candle instead of compact florescent lights those participating in Earth Hour are actually contributing more CO2 thereby increasing global warming. What those people don't understand is that I don't thing that those who started Earth Hour mean to so much reduce emissions as to raise awareness and show support for environmentally friendly regulations.

Thanks Fox News.

Busy, Busy

Yikes, today I am busy, busy, busy. Jason isn't moving in until tomorrow, so I have decided to just move out everything in one go, before we had an overload of stuff in this apt. I am keeping my 100 Thing Challenge going, and I have already realized that I forgot a ton of items and have to definitely adjust my list.

I have to admit though, I thought it was going to be painful to get rid of many of my possessions, but it has actually become extremely satisfying. Many things I am giving to my parents to sell at their garage sale, other items are going to friends and family who I think might like/need them. I have to say it feels wonderful to be less tethered by material things, although I might just be sick of packing box after box.

I'll have the new 100 Things list up soon - once I figure out what I can narrow down. Also, I am dead set on my hitchhiking adventure happening within the week.

Meanwhile, here are some pics from another trip to the peninsula, this time with my friend Mara. We just aimlessly wandered a bit, and then headed out to Gull Point since it is closed from April 1 - Nov 1 to provide sanctuary for breeding shore birds.

Cute house boats.

The North Pierhead Lighthouse

Mara catching me at my dorkiest - but it was great, there were scaups, buffleheads, redheads, and red-breasted and hooded mergansers. Sweet.

The 100 Thing Challenge

Dear Lord I am pairing my life down to 100 things… I am a little nervous about this, but I think this is the perfect time in my life to do it since I’m moving and can only take two or three bags to AmSam anyways. A man named Dave Bruno was fed up with how materialistic life is, and decided to pare down his personal possessions to 100 items. He make the rules for his life, so I am tweaking them a little to fit mine. My goal is to make the list, think about it, and tweak it for the next few weeks. I admit I am copping out a bit as I’m going to leave things in storage so I will technically still own it, but there are some sentimental things that I am keeping for now, and furniture that no one wants to borrow til I come back.

Rules:
1. “Personal Things” are things that are solely mine, so don’t include dishes, pans, furniture shared with roommates/family.

2. Things that are necessary in this American life don’t count. Copy of my lease, passport, checkbook, teacher certification, other documentation – do not count. Unless you live like a hermit these things are not really choice.

3. I’m counting many things as “kits” including my camera, so when I say camera I mean camera, SD card, cord to attach to computer, and bag. Anything that is necessary for common use of the item.

4. Books! I agree with Dave big time on this one, books are just too valuable to get rid of. Although I will add a supplementary 15 book addendum to my list for moving to AmSam, since I will only be able to take that many at most.

5. Since I am kind of cheating and leaving things with my parents, no quick changing items to fit my needs (aka. Trade in one skirt for another, and change back a week later). However, seasonal switches are ok. I’m not claiming that winter coat in June…


The List

1. Computer
2. Olympus E-500 Camera
3. Tiny Cannon Camera
4. Tripod
5. 2001 Ford Focus Wagon
6. Bike (and lock)
7. Bike rack for car
8. Backpack
9. Binoculars
10. Wristlet (with card holder)
11. Lunchbox
12. Cell phone
13. External hard drive
14. 4G flash drive
15. Printer
16. Computer speakers
17. Sleeping bag
18. MP3 player
19. Water bottle
20. Nylon carry-all bag
21. Small drawstring bookbag
22. “Class Stuff” ~ aka everything needed to not fail grad school
23. Winter Coat
24. Rain coat
25. Down vest
26. Black fleece
27. Blue hoodie
28. Camp fleece
29. Underwear/bras
30. Purple cami
31. White cami
32. Socks
33. Swimsuit
34. Old jeans
35. Dark jeans
36. Other jeans
37. Purple Skirt
38. Blue skirt
39. Canvas Belt
40. Athletic pants
41. Mesh shorts
42. Cotton Shorts
43. Cargo Shorts
44. PJs
45. Camp T-shirt
46. Blue Camp T-shirt
47. Light Blue Camp T-shirt
48. Long sleeve blue shirt
49. Long sleeve green-stripe
50. Short sleeve purple shirt
51. Long sleeve black shirt
52. Long sleeve maroon shirt
53. Nerdy Sweater
54. Blue tank
55. Green tank
56. Grey tank
57. Black dress pants
58. Black dress vest
59. Short sleeve dress shirt
60. Brown Crocs
61. Black flats
62. Blue flats
63. Brown sandals
64. Sneakers
65. Gloves
66. Wool hat
67. Blow-dryer
68. Alarm clock/radio
69. Set of hangers
70. Laundry basket
71. Dresser
72. Corner Cabinet
73. Tent
74. Shampoo & Conditioner
75. Soap
76. Face wash
77. Shower poufy thing
78. Toothbrush and paste
79. Glasses & contacts (spares too)
80. Face moisturizer
81. Chapstick
82. Lotion
83. Sunscreen
84. Bug spray
85. Camp Notre Dame Assistant Director Keys (soon to be bequeathed to my friend/ replacement!)
86. Headlamp
87. Line in-out cable to play my mp3 player in my car
88. 8 lb. weights
89. Pilates bands
90. Bulmer’s glass to collect change


That’s it for the moment. Tomorrow my roommate’s boyfriend is moving in with us, which I am excited about as he is a fun dude, and I will save money on bills. Currently I’ve vaguely paying attention in class while writing this, but all morning and afternoon before class I’ve been packing all my stuff up to switch bedrooms with Tricia as I have had the big room, and now her and Jason are going to share. It was great timing to run across this idea, because in my packing to switch rooms I have begun to make the purge of all but the things on my list.

I’ve left myself a decent buffer since I haven’t existed for many days yet on this list, and I am sure that I’m forgetting things. I’m really strangely exhilarated by this whole process, and with everything I placed in my decent sized garage sale pile, I feel more liberated. I’m hoping that this process will help to simplify and clarify the important things in my life, and I guess we’ll see. I’ll post an update in a week or so when I hammer it out.

For the Stationary Hobo

Somehow I was distracted online and discovered that in the recent movement to create environmentally friendly affordable housing, there is a booming trend of using old shipping crates. You know, those cars on the train, or the things on the semis. Apparently it is cheaper for shipping companies to build new shipping crates than to pay to have the crates returned. Although that seems strange, it leaves a lot of excess shipping crates that can be bought cheap, and are now being utilized for housing. Check it.

A little house.

Because the shipping containers are metal they are structurally very strong and can be stacked while still remaining stable. Nice apts!

Or a classy large house like this.

If I ever have money, and ever want to settle down, I am definitely considering building one like this. Recycled and cheap! Just my style.

Hitchhikers

What is it about hitchhikers that freak people out? This is one topic that I have noticed can inspire more dread than nearly any other topic, including Rush Limbaugh and nuclear holocaust - yet I have never personally known anyone who had a bad experience hitching or picking up a hitchhiker.

My thoughts on this topic were sparked when I recently picked up at hitchhiker on my way back from garage sale shopping with my friend. He was a very nice old dude who had the most insane cases of synovitis in his arthritic joints - his elbows were like tennis balls - not to mention he seems to have suffered from Bell's palsy or something similar as he couldn't move the left side of his face. I asked where he was headed, and ended up dropping him off at the restaurant he requested only a short distance away. Noting the trouble the gentleman had getting in and out of the car, and his dependence on his walker made both my friend and I grateful that we noticed him as we drove, as walking was obviously not easy for him.

A couple days later, at an extended family dinner while my aunt was talking about a patient with arthritis at the doctor's office she works at, and I mentioned the horrible joints that the hitchhiker had. Instantly I was met with a circle of aghast family members who began berating me for picking up a hitchhiker. I quickly said that it was no big deal, since I pick up hitchhikers all the time when I see them. **insert yelling and more aghastness** Bad choice on my part to mention that...

When I got home and reflected on the discussion that had ensued after the initial lecture, I was trying to understand my families case slash my retorts which went something like this:

Them: You picked up a hitchhiker! Are you crazy!

Me: No, it was broad daylight on 12th street. He was old and had a walker anyways.

Them: What? You think that murders can't happen in daylight! And that walker could have been to lull you into a false sense of security!

Me: That's ridiculous, he just wanted a ride. What are the chances that he was a murder compared to the chances he is an old guy who wanted a ride?

Them: He is hitchhiking - not walking - he was asking for a ride! The only people who do that have ulterior motives.

Me: Yeah, like getting a ride! And besides, you all hitchhiked when you were young.

Them: Times were different then! It was much safer!

Me: ...urrggg....


Exasperated, I left it at that. At home though I was able to actually do a little research, and I found out that the per capita rate for the most recent data from 2005 is 5.6, which is the lowest it's been since 1965. Take that aunts! Not too mention in all my research I only found a handful of murders of or by hitchhikers - most of them were in the '60s and'70s...

The more I think about it the more upset I became. All these people are so concerned about the 1 in a million chance that a hitchhiker will harm/rob them, that they are completely willing to ignore the immediate needs of a fellow human being.


Schmucks.



Last note: This whole hitchhiking drama has made me want to hitchhike. Next day I have some free time I'm going to try my hand at hitching Erie.

First Day of Spring (Technically)

This Friday was the first day of spring, but you can't really tell up here in Erie. I woke up and spent hours packing (I'm switching rooms with my roommates) and when I couldn't take it anymore, decided that I would take a nice spring bike ride at the near by state park, Presque Isle. Trying to decide what exactly to wear, I checked the weather and saw that it was a wonderful 30 degrees.

I couldn't really complain though, spring comes slow to Erie and 30 and sunny skies actually isn't that bad. So I packed up my camera, binos, and tripod in my backpack, threw my bike on my rack, and headed to the peninsula.

It was chilly, but it was awesome. Here are some pics I took.

Spring is here, if you look.

To get this pic I did my first tree climbing
of the season.

Calm day on the Bay

Rubble and Erie

I think this pic captures Erie pretty well:
Bicentennial Tower and Canada Geese

I also got really nerdily excited because I saw a pair of Wigeons. I love the migration.

Blog Creeper

Hello, my name is Kate - and I'm a blog creeper.

Let me explain... When I first found out that I got accepted to go to AmSam I was thrilled, and immediately launched myself into some serious research. I had already done some basic research before I applied, but since I didn't want to get my hopes up too high, I hadn't delved in too far. So when I started to search for some information, I quickly realized that there isn't much information out there about American Samoa. Every travel site had the identical set of paragraphs, and there were only a few good sites including the NPS site for the National Park of American Samoa. And don't even get me started on their Department of Education website - no good information about curriculum or policy.

I was pretty disappointed after this week or so of on-off research, I was really craving some details on the place I would be calling home and teaching in for a year. But then I had a breakthrough: blogs.

I randomly happened onto a blog from someone who moved to AmSam from the mainland to work for a year, and it provided the perfect information. Basically it was a documentation of their experiences moving from the states to AmSam, and all the surprises, differences, and unique culture that they ran into.

I was hooked on that blog like trailer trash on meth.

Once I had skimmed and read a good portion of the posts, I realized that they had links to other AmSam blogs which eventually led me to numerous blogs from others folks who had moved to the Island to work for some period of time. Over the last few months I have fallen into the habit of reading some of them when I am in class (I take notes, or at least pretend to, on my comp) during the more boring parts.

Not surprisingly, reading these blogs has made me feel like I have a much better idea about what it might be like when I move to AmSam, and has consequently made me much more excited and less apprehensive. However it has also brought me a new fear...

I realized a bit ago that when I move to AmSam these people writing the blogs will no longer be strangers half way across the world, but possibly my neighbors. There are only so many expats on the island, and what do I do if I meet them?


"Hi, I'm John Doe. Nice to meet you"

"Oh hey John, how are your two girls Sally and Jane? Did Sally's team win that soccer match that was coming up? Oh, and tell your wife Betty that I hope she is feeling better from that bout of Dengue fever she got last week. She seemed even sicker that you were when you caught it last March!"

"Um. Er. What?"


Yeah probably not. I guess if I ever meet these people I will pretend that I never read there blog (know their children's names/occupation/life story), unless we hang out and I have a few drinks - then I will probably end up apologizing for stalking them. I suppose they will understand that I was just trying to figure out what life is like in AmSam, and they did write a blog - so I guess they assume random people will read it.


PS. If somewhere in the future, someone who is moving to AmSam is reading this blog - I DO NOT think you are a creeper. I feel that pain.

Zen Moments in These Crazy Days

It has been one of those days. Weird and random - and definitely a pain in the tuckus. I find out this morning from the building inspector that in the basement of my house there was a sewage back up. Yuck. I went down to see and it was not nice, and my lovely landlord is being a real jerk. Then I head to school ( I commute 25 miles) and upon arrival find that they have closed the lot that makes up for 30% of commute parking for the year for construction, and apparently I now have to walk 20 minutes every day from my car to class. Ick.

It the long run no big deal, but kind of a lousy start to the day. Luckily I just went on a really relaxing road trip and camping, and reflected on those memories to chill out.

Sunrise over the Gulf

Laughing Gull

Bayou

I can't wait for July...

AIG Drama

Really? AIG is giving some of their execs bonuses with bailout money? Blah... Greed is a very powerful motivation. I understand that AIG says that they were contractually obligated to pay 100% of 2007 bonuses in 2008, but there has to be a way to get around that! The money is not even the company's money - its every American Tax payer's. Now don't get me wrong, I am for the bail out because I think something needs to be done to prop up the economy - but this is a slap in the face of the taxpayers.

Well, I hope that somehow we can make them give the money back. Ideally, I'd love to see the morals of the individual prevail and see some of the executives who received bonuses turn them back over. I have to hope that those people will have some shame and see that they already have far more than the average American, and deal with tightening their belts (sigh... no new Porsche this year...).

Beyond griping I sent a little email to AIG, which I'm sure means nothing, but just maybe if thousands of others are doing the same we can show the public disapproval.

Check the gory details here.

Christmas, Revisited.

Here is a journal entry from right before Christmas that is part of the reason I wanted to move somewhere a little different from Pennsylvania:

Christmas. Xmas. Navidad. Noel. Yuletide.

I love Christmas, I think almost everyone does. This year I found myself pondering the many facets of Christmas that are presented in mainstream media and common thought and traditions. One of the most common themes of Christmastime is that family, friends, and goodwill towards men are what is important in life. Our national pastime in December is to gather 'round to watch Christmas specials to get us in the mood for the holidays. Time and time again we tear up when the Grinch hears the Whos singing even though the presents are gone, Scrooge takes the biggest goose to the Cratchets, Ralphie and his family have their Chinese Christmas dinner, or Bedford Falls bands together to save George Bailey. At those moments we are filled with the true Christmas Spirit that we have come to associate with the season. But every twenty minutes in these movies we are assaulted with commercialism - buy this toy, save 10% here, get a Lexus with a gratuitously large bow for your hubby... Does anyone else sense contradiction? I don't mean to sound bitter - I watched movies and bought presents too - but I just find it strange that we as a society can transition so seamlessly from fuzzy-warm feeling of Love Actually, to the mad frenzy of excessive shopping.

Most people think these is nothing wrong with these these shopping frenzies and spending a large amount of money on gifts, but I just wonder if it adds to the generally happiness of people today. A majority of gifts are given because of want. Johnny wants an Xbox 360. Dad wants a LCD 72 inch TV, Aunt Sally wants Botox. We give these gifts, but they fill an extraneous wish, and distract from those things that movies tell us are truly important. Love, health, family.

I suppose that today most people in our society have few if any needs unfilled that can be filled monetarily. Also most of us have wants filled more frequently. I remember my great-grandmother telling me that for Christmas when she was little, for Christmas she would get a tangerine, a stick of penny candy, and one doll to be shared among all 11 kids. Kids today look at that and think, "Wow, that would suck!" but when my great-grandma told me this story, she was speaking with longing of how wonderful it was to have that one tangerine a year, and how she would savor the smell of the peel when scratched, the fine mist of oil from peeling, and how she would slowly eat section by section over the course of the day. All I could think as she was lost in this reminisce, was that I have never enjoyed a present than much. And she was talking about a tangerine...

Perhaps it is just a product of fruitful and rich society that today we it takes more and more money to make a truly exciting gift. But as long as we are filling wants, they will not even mean as much as those gifts that fill needs. Growing up poor among 10 siblings in the early 1900's my great-grandmother rarely received anything extravagant, so Christmas brought her yearly chance to have have something different from day to day - and all it took was a tangerine. She still was having a want filled, but it was barley above a need. I can only imagine how the truely needy must revile in a gift that fills a need.

I suppose there is nothing wrong with Christmas today. I have a feeling that I simply see more pointedly how societies with everything, seem to lose something. Life is a balance of opposites; hot/cold, light/dark, good/evil, - so maybe those in our societies without true need cannot experience true joy. Perhaps this is why the rich still battle depression, apathy, and substance abuse. I am again reminded of what I have learned by visiting other societies that we consider poor, and how they seemed to have more happiness in many cases, especially when it came to appreciating family, and simple things in life.

Perhaps we should evaluate who is rich and who is poor. And that the best Chrismtas gift might be some self reflection.

Sister speaks the truth!

Today during Ecology (I admit I am the worst student in that class) I was free-association surfing the internet and ended up spending some time reading poetry and I ran across a Maya Angelou poem that I hadn't read since high school. Even though I recognized the poem, I was struck by it's meaning now for the first time. Although I cannot claim to understand the true meaning as black women who lived through civil rights can - that is a suffering and sweetness of victory that is beyond me - it still speaks to savoring of the simple graces.

Weekend Glory

Some clichty folks
don't know the facts,
posin' and preenin'
and puttin' on acts,
stretchin' their backs.

They move into condos
up over the ranks,
pawn their souls
to the local banks.
Buying big cars
they can't afford,
ridin' around town
actin' bored.

If they want to learn how to live life right
they ought to study me on Saturday night.

My job at the plant
ain't the biggest bet,
but I pay my bills
and stay out of debt.
I get my hair done
for my own self's sake,
so I don't have to pick
and I don't have to rake.

Take the church money out
and head cross town
to my friend girl's house
where we plan our round.
We meet our men and go to a joint
where the music is blue
and to the point.

Folks write about me.
They just can't see
how I work all week
at the factory.
Then get spruced up
and laugh and dance
And turn away from worry
with sassy glance.

They accuse me of livin'
from day to day,
but who are they kiddin'?
So are they.

My life ain't heaven
but it sure ain't hell.
I'm not on top
but I call it swell
if I'm able to work
and get paid right
and have the luck to be Black
on a Saturday night.

Thundercats are Go

Over the last year or so, chance would have it that a sequence of events would occur in such I way that somehow had an epiphany. There wasn't a heavens-parting-choir-of-angels kind of moment, just a few weeks long realization that I was not living a life that made my life worthwhile for me or others. In other words I was a bitch. I really already knew this, but made excuses to myself and others for why I was the way I was, but now I see that I was just scared and full or self-loathing. So in the last year I have really pushed myself to change and put others first, to take chances, and to be responsible for my actions and feelings. So far it's working out nicely minus a few learning experiences including; meaning well while helping depressed friends - but maybe causing more problems, being a little too bluntly honest with a grad professor, losing patience with others, and a messy political love triangle.

Not too bad though, considering I learned from those experiences and won't be making the same mistakes again.

Honestly - I am happier than I can ever remember being, no only from my new found self-confidence, but more so from the fact that my so-called "new self" doesn't hurt others like I used to. Seeing myself make my family and friends glad instead of miserable is a wonderful feeling.

To quote that classy poet T.I., "No regrets I'm blessed today, the old me dead and gone away..."


I'm getting a little narcissistic, so I'll try to get to the point. Along with all this new-age self-realization has come a powerful desire to go and start somewhere new and face some new challenges. As I am for the most part wrapping up my grad courses this spring, I had the awe inspiring realization that I could go anywhere next year. I knew that I wanted to teach (that is one thing about me that has never changed) and so I started looking for jobs and programs all over. After some serious months of research, applying, and daydreaming I narrowed my choices down and waited to hear back from programs and school districts. After some torturing weeks of waiting I heard back from my top choice program, which I promptly (and with much screaming) accepted - and in July I will be moving to American Samoa to teach.

Well that catches you up to the present. But you might be asking yourself... "Self, why on earth is this chick making a blog, and why in heck am I reading it?"

I don't know why you're reading this, or if anyone is, but I decided to write this blog mostly to keep tabs on myself. Sometimes I get too caught up in whats going on in my lovely hectic life to be introspective, and I hope that this blog will give me the opportunity to self-reflect and examine my actions as well as my thoughts on life in general.