Highlights of an eventful year that was rarely blogged about
- Author: Ericka
- Filed under: Uncategorized
Dec 31,2009
Wow! The year is coming to a close I feel like I've accomplished so much, but then I looked at the resolutions I made last year and I only completed 2 of them. I was able to reduce a lot of clutter in the house (mostly by Kelli moving out…kidding) and also I've improved my ability to handle stress. I sucked at improving relationships with Ben, Jaycie, and Maxwell and though I read over 40 books (51 total), I didn't read Infinite Jest, Choke, The Satanic Verses, but I did make a dent in Philip Roth.
2009 Resolutions:
1. Continue to reduce the clutter–by adding bookshelves, donating stuff, and throwing crap away.
2. Improve my relationships with Ben, Jaycie, and Maxwell–by going to breakfast, lunch, dinner, or coffee/cocoa once a month to have some 1:1 time.
3. Improve my ability to handle stress–by using the centering techniques I already know and possibly learning some new ways to center myself when I am overwhelmed.
4. Read 40 books. Specifically, I want to read the following this year: Infinite Jest, Choke, The Satanic Verses, and all the Philip Roth I haven't read yet. the Philip Roth books Jodi recommends.
2009 Highlights (in no particular order):
1. Finished my first year in the PhD program
2. Learned to golf
3. Ran in 4- 5K races with Jaycie and Kari (two with Ben and my cousin Cathy and one with Maxwell)
4. Read 51 books (We Need to Talk About Kevin being the best and Totally Killer being the worst)
5. Taken a liking to Ben's Zen teachings. Learning about this mind-body connection even though it's still quackery to me.
6. Got to see more live music (highlight being the Jonas Brothers upgrade from last row to front row and runner up was Warp Tour with Ben, Jaycie, Maxwell, and the Wolf girls and of course, The Hold Steady which was Maxwell's first live music event).
7. Moved Kelli to South Dakota
8. Our Florida vacation (fun to meet up with Lynn and Epcot is awesome)
9. Wisconsin Dells vacation with the Smith Family (water slides rule)
10. My two awesome research assistantship positions (working on several awesome projects with two great professors).
11. Quit smoking (6 months smoke-free)
12. Watched two of my sisters graduate from St. Kate's. I'm so proud of them.
13. Jaycie and Maxwell's first live professional sporting events (Twins and Vikings)
14. Purchased new car and traded in the ol' sucky Passat
15. Taught Jaycie and Maxwell to do their own laundry
QotD: The Worst Book Ever
- Author: Ericka
- Filed under: Uncategorized
Dec 14,2009
What's the worst book you've ever read?
What I did on my summer vacation
- Author: Ericka
- Filed under: Uncategorized
Sep 8,2009
In addition to the previously written about accomplishments this summer, here is a list of the fun things I did on my summer vacation.
• Read 17 books
• Trained and ran my first 5K
• Completed golf lessons
• Visited WI Dells
• Bought a new car
• Made a good dent in the cleaning and organizing of the house
• Moved Kelli to South Dakota
• Attended several concerts (Jonas Brothers, The Hold Steady, and Warped Tour)
• Brought Jaycie and Maxwell to their first Twins and Vikings games
Back to School–this time with a plan
- Author: Ericka
- Filed under: Uncategorized
Sep 8,2009
When I finished school in May, I was going to write a post about the trials and tribulations of the Ph.D program. Obviously, I didn't do that. It’s mostly because I'm a lazy writer, but also because it's really hard to talk about it. So now summer is over and I'm preparing to head back for another academic year. I used this summer to process last year, prepare for this year, and have as much fun as possible while still working enough to supplement our fun.
I left campus in May with two basic goals. First, I needed to figure out a minor as required for my program. Then, I needed to figure out the subject/topic/issue I want to "specialize" in. I’ve struggled with the direction I want to go for sometime and trying to find some linkage between my main two interests of violence prevention and HIV/AIDS. In June, I had a flash of brilliance and decided to focus on HIV transmission through gendered violence. It's a topic that doesn't get much attention here in the US since most of our HIV cases are through men having sex with men, but internationally it's an issue and with a growing immigrant and refugee population it will likely be something we have to deal with here. So, now that I narrowed my interest down, I also was able to choose my minor. I decided on public health. I may get the full MPH but for now I’m just planning on taking the required 14 credits.
Tomorrow I start what is probably my last year of classroom work. I’m taking a total of 13 credits divided between 6 classes—2 of which are online (something I’ve never done)—this semester. In addition to my classes, I’ll be working 20 hours a week as a graduate research assistant. I’m working on a few interesting projects with two of the best professors at the University. I wasn’t sure I’d be as excited to start back this year as I have in the past. Last year was difficult, but I can honestly say that I’m excited for my classes and research projects. I just hope I can remain positive throughout the entire year.
Sex Ed Guidelines
- Author: Ericka
- Filed under: Uncategorized
Sep 7,2009
UN Guide for Sex Ed Creates Opposition
I realize it’s going to be a long four (hopefully eight or more) years. With conservatives in the minority, they feel they need to make a lot of noise about every little issue that may threaten Christian Conservative beliefs. We’ve had the ridiculous lies about health care reform, then the outrage over the President wanting to speak to our school children, and now it’s the anger over sex education. Their battle cry does not want the government to get involved in their private matters–either health care or parental rights. It frustrates me because they are always given a “opt out” option. People are not being forced to take public option health care or to listen to President Obama. Yet, they want to deprive my children and me a public option for health insurance, the opportunity to listen to the President, and to receive a thorough sexual education. They are restricting my options and my choices. This is the kind of “freedom” I voted against in November. As an atheist, I’m sick of living under restrictive Christian rules and being denied my rights to information and education. I hope people see the light sooner rather than later. I want the peope to stand strong against this vocal minority to make real change in this world.
I haven’t posted in so…
- Author: Ericka
- Filed under: Uncategorized
Jul 21,2009
I haven't posted in so long that I actually needed Ben to help me. Anyway, in my new quest for athleticism, I've been nursing a few injuries. Instead of sympathy, I only hear "rub some dirt on it" or "you gotta play through the pain." hotrod got the same advice. I couldn't remember where it originated until Ben kindly reminded me tonight.
Shame and Fear=Silence
- Author: Ericka
- Filed under: Uncategorized
Jun 4,2009
Four teens charged as adults in locker room sexual assault
When I first read articles like this, I instantly start to worry about my own children—their safety, their mental health, all of those motherly thoughts. Then I get angry. Why?! How do children even begin to think this is okay? Why didn’t anyone say anything? I understand the victim not saying anything—the shame and fear that keep you silent. The shame of seeming weak. The shame of being sodomized. The homophobic fear of sodomy. The fear of being attacked. The fear of not being believed or heard. But, there were others who heard the screams and who witnessed what was happening. Why did they stay silent? I’m sure there is fear and shame in witnessing as well. (I will need to do more research on this aspect of violence.) I hate that I can rationalize the silence.
After my initial anger, I automatically move to prevention. How can we prevent this from happening? I’m sick of having to always focus on prevention from a victim standpoint. How do we protect ourselves against rape? No! How do we teach people that this is unacceptable? We have these “no means NO” campaigns, but I think they start in high school or even college. And I think that’s too late. We need to be sending these messages in elementary school. Not necessarily the whole sex/rape, no means no, but basic respect and treatment of the human beings. We need more prevention education from a younger age and not just focusing on what we don’t do but also what we should do. That silence is not acceptable. That we must stand up for others in order to protect ourselves. To remove the shame and fear that keep people silent. We have to teach ourselves to not rationalize the silence.
QotD: Can’t Stop Listening to…
- Author: Ericka
- Filed under: Uncategorized
Jun 3,2009
Today is Repeat Day, so we want to know: what song do you have currently have on repeat? Bonus points if you share it with us!
Vox Hunt: Summer Reading
- Author: Ericka
- Filed under: Uncategorized
May 31,2009
Show us a book you feel like you should read, but just can't bring yourself to actually pick up.
Categories
Archives
- December 2009
- September 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- October 2005
- September 2005
- August 2005
- July 2005
- June 2005
- May 2005
- April 2005
- March 2005
- February 2005
- January 2005
- December 2004
- November 2004
- October 2004
- September 2004
- August 2004
- July 2004
- June 2004
- May 2004
- April 2004
- March 2004
- February 2004
- January 2004
- December 2003
- November 2003
- October 2003
- September 2003
- August 2003
- July 2003
- June 2003
- May 2003
- April 2003
- March 2003
- February 2003
- January 2003
- December 2002
- November 2002
- October 2002
- September 2002
- August 2002
- July 2002
Meta
Recent Comments
- Ericka: Yes, and I think you
- Jodi: is classic concentration the one
- Wendy: I forgot about Classic Concentration.
- Ericka: It would be cute if
- Wendy: I honestly roll my eyes
- Adam: My personal fav class as
- Benjamin: Yes, she would skip school
- Adam: Jello Pudding Pops FTW!
- Wendy: I used to have a
- Jodi: I kind of wanted him