*shame*

I should preface this post by saying that I've enjoyed this semester of school immensely, and that it has probably been my favorite since I started the MA program--fewer languages, fewer classes, more focus on thesis, etc. And I really enjoy my seminar course since its the only class I'm taking this semester where I get to engage with my fellow peers, and get to see how they progress and struggle through the same process that I am currently in. we are bonded in the struggle lol.

anyway, I'm very happy to study antiquity. I've been engaged with my sources and my research for quite some time, and before that, I was always looking to the past as a subject of interest and study. and although every field of history is unique, with its own complications and limitations, I can't help but feel that antiquity and pre-modern history is so completely different, and to a certain extent more difficult, than modern history. but I thought I had a happy medium where I lived in the modern world with all its problems and complexities, and yet could transition to the ancient world. I've only recently discovered, however, how unattached I am to the events and conflicts of today, globally, and how one sided I've been. This was, in part, due to that previously mentioned seminar class. I sat in class, feeling the shame that could only be mine for my own ignorance and conceit. thus shamed. shamed. for shame.

You're not one of those...Feminists, are you?

The Good Wife's Guide

+ Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favorite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.

+ Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.

+Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.

+Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

+Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first--remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

+Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.

+Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

+A good wife always knows her place.

Those are just a few gems from Housekeeping Monthly 1955. hurray for feminism!

The Loneliest Man in the World.

I've recently started studying at a starbucks that is by my house because it's relatively quite and doesn't experience the lunch rushes that panera does, and no, I won't tell you which one because you'll go there and kill the quite study atmosphere. but right next to it is a french eatery that I have frequented in the past. Well, last time I was at starbucks, I noticed that the inside of the french place was completely remodeled and that they upped the classy level to a really cute restaurant (as opposed to cafe). But it was absolutely dead inside, except for the one waiter/host/owner(?). I first noticed him eating what I can only suppose was an elegant meal that he was enjoying, by himself, with a lovely glass of white wine. Later, I saw him fixing the linens on the tables outside. Finally, on my way home, I looked into the well-lit french restaurant and saw the image of the loneliest man in the world. He was sitting on a bar stool, just peering into the darkness outside, completely alone. In all of that time, I don't believe there was a single soul who walked into that restaurant. And I wondered if he even had a cook or chef to keep him company. As I walked to my car, I couldn't shake the haunting thought that he looked like the loneliest man in the world from my head.

Today, however, I realized why. I tried to call in a salad order to this place earlier today for lunch. There wasn't an answer which struck me as odd considering how dead I saw the place and wouldn't they run to pick up the phone for an order? But later I went to study at starbucks again, and I realized that the reason why it looked different, why no on answered the phone, and why no one went into the restaurant, was because the previous cafe was bought out and replaced my the loneliest man in the world's restaurant. Today, in fact, was their grand opening! The sign of the cafe hasn't been taken down yet, which led me to believe that they were still one and the same. And I was glad to see some people walking to the new restaurant. It made me think that the loneliest man in the world would not have to spend another night in an empty restaurant.

Things I'm Excited For!!!~

- San Francisco! Even though I'm only going up for a few hours on Friday, I seriously cannot wait to go I <3 SF! =D

-Thanksgiving & Thanksmas! All the cooking shows make the best stuff just in time for the holidays & I'm writing down everything! dried cranberry & apple stuffing, brie mashed potatoes, red velvet cookie sandwiches, pumpkin cheesecake yum yum yum!! And I cant wait for thanksmas this year! we have so much to be thankful for & its always good to spend the holidays with friends & eat great food!

-the Holiday season! I love love love love love November-December because its cheerful and warms the soul <3 just like hot chocolate on a cold night. I always start to listen to frank sinatra, louis armstrong, ella fitzgerald, & think of new york even though I've never been =( I really wish I could go to New York this year but with the finances being as tight as they are, thats a plan put on hold.

-Our New President!! OBAMA-SAMA~woot=D

just..gotta get through classes first. big big big presentation tomorrow that I'm stressing over. Must get through it though, and san fran awaits me the next day.

Happy November 2nd!

I don't have a theme for this post. It's just a bunch of random thoughts because I'm avoiding my homework haha.

Halloween was fun!~~I ended up being a ballerina for the night. The idea hit me while I was at the fabric store, and I wandered into the pretty netting/tulle aisle. I was reminded of Degas' ballerinas: 

I love Degas' ballerinas--and Ballerinas in Blue especially. So I bought my stuff and made my tutu! it was a lot of work on a friday afternoon in which I also had to write a paper :I

The girls were fun too! handsome christ and glowing jaz were morticia and gomez from the adams family, tiff was the girl from futurama, hole was 80s, nessa was a firewoman but looked like mrs. claus, sheens was rhianna. oj looked like a doctor, but wasnt just any doctor. His name tag (mine) reads: McDreamy hahaha. and he put product in his hair!

Tuesday is the big day!! Make sure you guys get out a vote vote vote! I know how I'm voting on the bigger issues, but I need to read up on some props and candidates platforms. I think more than just voting, its important to be a responsible voter. So brush up on your reading skills & make your votes count on Tuesday!!

I need to figure out a better financial situation. things are getting dire because I'm literally living pay check to pay check--and making coffee doesn't pay the bills. I have 2 other side jobs, but I only get paid monthly, and so its not a reliable source of income. With the holiday season coming up, I dont know what I'm going to do. Rob a bank?