Things That I Love.

Given the time constraints that now face me as a full-time graduate student, I've decided to take a page out of the immortal Sei Shonagon's pillow book. Interspersed between her various sprightly entries on life at the Heian court were random lists of things - things that are cute, things that are bothersome, things that are famous, etc. From time to time, I intend to do something in a similar vein - both to keep folks appraised and to keep my blogging time to a minimum when I really can't spare it (as I can't particularly right now).

And without further ado...

Things That I Love:
* Making tea and breakfast in the morning in my tiny, lovely kitchen.
* The word "kunst" (and all its variations), which is too funny.
* Super-cool colleagues and mentors.
* Getting excited about theory, as such, for the first time.
* Realizing that this is my house, which I share with no other, and that I can fall asleep on the couch if I bloody well want to.
* The Primanti Brothers' Pittsburgh-style Hoagie – easily the burliest, most macho sandwich I’ve ever eaten. Hey, it's not like I needed my arteries for anything.
* Having unlimited printing privileges at the university library and as well as access to Jstor.
* Death, dying, ghosts, and all ritual, tradition, and art associated with them - particularly in China and Japan.
* Re-reading beloved books with the little snatches of time that are left to me after a long day.

It's Funny...

...how people get scattered about; how they lose touch. And then one day you learn that you'll never have a chance to reconnect with them because they've gone for good and ever into that vast unknown. And you realize that you miss them; that you have missed them for a long time but you never realized.

And it's too late.

Blessed Be, Martha Baker. May your future journey reflect the life of grace and beauty that you lived in the here and now, and may your loved ones take what consolation they can from your remarkable example.