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.

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What's the worst book you've ever read?

Totally Killer: A Novel

Greg Olear

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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

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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.

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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 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.

Master Card – Peyton Manning Commercial

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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.

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!

16 Girls Like Status

The Hold Steady

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Show us a book you feel like you should read, but just can't bring yourself to actually pick up.

Moby Dick (Oxford World’s Classics)

Herman Melville

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Share a photograph from the weekend.

IMG_1355

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