Spring at PHC

The bushes at the end of the parking lot to the east bloom, between the old bio lab buildings and the maintenance sheds, and it is beautiful.

A couple splendidly oblivious bumblebees happened along while I was photographing. I took pains not to attract their attention, and then the cat Kona turned up and cuddled. So I attended to her instead. My life is not full enough of cuddling cats.

I will consider my cat Texy

For if he meets another cat he will kiss her in kindness.

The second night of Pride and Prejudice

Well, all and sundry, Pride and Prejudice has now had two performances; half of them. Is it not strange that such work, so much time, can be done so quickly?

Minimalist; yet, I believe, by the grace of God, effective. Drama is an art, art of people and bits of fabric and paint and time and speech. To usurp a Much Ado quote, is it not strange that dining hall chairs can hale men's souls out of their bodies? How can it be that we can show the story of two people becoming humble on four nights, the same story yet different?

Ben and Lisa are such gracious, humble directors. They always thank their assistants and crew and minions; even those who do very little, actually; they always have time to listen to the most random people, if necessary; they tolerate endless Macbeth comparisons and even love us who make them. Give them honor, and they will be blessed by it and yet reflect it back to those to whom it is due. Honor them.

I love official humor

Yup, that's northern New Mexico for you. :-D

He is risen!

Happy Easter!

FRENCH FRIES!!

I had a french fry urge this evening while returning to Town Hall after putting chairs back in Founders 2 where they belonged. It was a lovely warm evening, with a full moon and everything. The trip was uneventful, except we found Bales and thence greeted Hannah. And, of course, the excursion generated a french fry urge.

So I pop back into Town Hall and announce to my roommate that I want french fries.

Kay: Like, from McDonald's?"

Me: Definitely from McDonald's.

Kay: Well, I have to write a paper, but it's only a ten-minute trip. We should go get french fries.

Ben and Heather start insulting McDonald's.

Me: But, Ben, I like McDonald's.

Ben: Well, then you just need to improve your taste.

Kirsten: Hey. She picked me for a roommate.

Ben: All right, you have good taste in roommates.

Heather: And you can eat french fries, like my sister. It's disgusting.

Ben: She can't eat french fries.

Me: But it doesn't make me fat.

Ben: No, but it's bad for you.

Heather: It hardens your arteries. You'll look just fine and then you'll die of a heart attack.

Me: Kirsten and I are going now. You should come get french fries with us.

Heather: I can't. I'm writing a feature article for tomorrow.

Ben: It'll make you sick.

(We're halfway out the door.)

Ben: And it'll ruin your complexion!

Kirsten and I find this very amusing: the consequences of french fries are death, sickness, and a bad complexion, in that order. We're still laughing when we pass a group of girls sitting on the grass between the dorms. We explain the situation.

Me: You should come get french fries.

They decline. We keep going. Jennifer, Rose, and Jonathan are all standing about in front of the dorm. We explain the situation.

Me: You should come get french fries with us.

Jennifer: Like, from McDonald's?

Me: Definitely from McDonald's.

Kay: So it's only a ten minute trip. And I have to write a paper.

Jonathan: But french fries are bad for you.

Me: You've been talking to your roommate again, haven't you??

Jonathan: No! Well, yes, but not about that.

Jennifer: I think I will come.

Me: Yay! Rose?

Rose: No, better not.

Jonathan won't come either. So we grab our purses and go get in the car. On the way, we see Maggie, walking in front of the dorms, all alone. I roll down my window.

Me: Maggie! We're going to get french fries! You should come!

Maggie: I was going to go sleep, but all right.

She came. We exhorted her not to sit on the Eden Troupe posters in the backseat, which Jennifer had likewise not sat on, and kept going.

Kay: Oh look. There are Jane and Bingley. Not getting sleep is bad for the complexion too, you know.

Maggie: What happened at rehearsal tonight? Everybody is talking about french fries. And Bingley has started giving Jane nutrition advice.

Kay: Nutrition advice? Like, oranges?

Maggie: No, telling her not to eat french fries.

We got french fries. They were very good. The stoplight in front of McDonald's was astoundingly short, but we decided that was okay because it gave us more time to eat our french fries.

We felt very collegiate. There's something charming and random about going and getting french fries with girl friends at ten o'clock on a full-moon-lit night. The group of girls was still sitting on the grass when we came back, so we shared some of our fries with them. Kay got to her paper and Maggie, presumably, to sleep. Life is good. :-)

Discoveries in Shakespeare

Upon sitting down to read a Shakespeare play for a paper, I made a sad discovery. I've been a lit major so long I'm almost incapable of reading without a pencil in hand.


In other news, I'd forgotten how witty Romeo and Juliet is. Behold.

Benvolio: What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours?

Romeo: Not having that, which having makes them short.

Benvolio: In love?

Romeo: Out--

Benvolio: Of love?

Romeo: Out of her favor, where I am in love.

Benvolio: Alas, that love, so gentle in his view,
Should be so tyramnous and rough in proof!

Romeo: Alas, that love, whose view is muffled still,
Should, without eyes, see pathways to his will!

Moods

I observe that it seems to be mood season. I've been having them too. It's always sort of depressing when you're in a mood and have to go to class or something and be civil: civil, from the civis, the city, or, in other words, have to go and behave suitably toward other humans. It's fine, usually, as long as you remark upon the beauty of the blossoming trees and express hope that tomorrow will be as warm as today or inquire how chapel was. It is more depressing when people ask you how you're doing; which they inevitably do.

Some people ask as a greeting, not an inquiry. That's convenient enough; since they're already six paces past you, you don't have to worry about answering. Most people, however, pay you the courtesy of holding still long enough for you to have to answer. This is the point where civility, sin nature, and a number of confusing factors all moosh in together. The most honest response, "I'm really grumpy. How dare you talk to me? Go jump in Lake Bob" is not precisely an option. So then you feel bad because you wanted to bite their head off for being civil, and try to come up with an alternate answer. The simplest response is "Fine, thanks. You?" That's just not very true, though it will deflect the conversation. Dr. Somerville says he likes to answer, "Better than I deserve," which has the merit of being absolutely true no matter what. Marian has recommended, "I'm struggling today," which is okay, but doesn't sound like me talking. Generally I answer a related question, such as, "What have you done today?" ("I successfully had a quiet time and printed out my DQs") or "Where are you?" ("I'm here").

The nicest people, though, are the ones who actually care how you're doing and you're allowed to tell them plainly that you're in a rotten mood. Everyone else probably cares too, at some level, but if you don't know them that well, you just don't want to spill your heart to them. But real friends will either listen to your woe, give you a hug, or tell you to get a grip, or possibly all three. So it's nice to have friends.

It also occurs to me that it's nice when your generally equanimitous friends have moods, because it proves they too are human. It's when you're finally permitted to give grace, after having to accept it for one's own moods for all of forever.

And before you ask: I actually am doing fine this evening. Thanks. :-)

Yet another use for limericks

My epic (or at least mock-heroic tale) in limericks has gone somewhat into abeyance, but in the meantime, behold: a dictionary with entries in limerick. Many thanks to Firinnteine, who brought it to my attention. :-)

Painters

The Apostle Saint James the Great Freeing the Magician Hermogenes, ca. 1429–30
Fra Angelico (Italian, 1390/5–1455)
Tempera and gold on panel; 10 x 8 7/8 in.
Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas
© 2004 Kimbell Art Museum

Accessible here

Makoto Fujimura, a Christian artist you may remember me blogging about over Christmas break, has two more long good posts about Christianity, art, the church, art in times of uncertainty, and apprenticeship. He gets there by way of Fra Angelico, a Renaissance painter (ecce uploaded picture). I find his perspective interesting because he seems to be thinking much like we are, only he's a) a successful practicing artist, and b) doing visual art instead of literary. I recommend looking at his blog. :-)

A very good sign indeed

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

That is Ephesians 4:1-3 (NASB), which Dr. Walker just read to us (in some other translation). Dr. Walker just got officially approved as our new president.

That is the verse which we have been thinking about much of late: it speaks of our calling, of love, of forgiveness, of unity in the Lord.

That he would choose that verse shows that God is not absent from us, but He is here and doing one thing with students, church, and administration alike. It is a very good sign indeed. I want to cry.

On paper lanterns

Surrounding bulbs by shades of paper
Diffuses watts like sun through vapor.
Lumens scatter through translucence,
Flying persecuted through thence.
It’s not a mystery profound
That veiling spread the glow around;
A colored cage of wire and wood
Glorifies the light as good.

Sovereign

Is it not nice that in Him we live and move and have our being? Until He falls apart, our world won't fall apart either, unless He lets it happen for a good reason. And that is an encouraging thought.

So praise His name, and beseech His blessing.