But Roller Derby, yes. So fun though here they don't use full on ramps and do the penalties a little differently than back home. It's all flat with no stands or anything. And at one point, men were playing too, which I found very odd. Still, the announcers were fun and of course its an epic spectator sport. I went with a few members of my cohort, though only two of us had actually been to one before. Moreover, nobody really seemed to pay much attention to the derby. It was like being at a high school football game where everyone talked and only tuned in when something exciting was happening. And in Roller Derby, there's no instant replay so if you miss it you miss it. But I got my buddy Powder Climber into it, so I have a feeling we'll be attending more and more. Powder Climber is the latest member of my cohort to be added to the blog. He lives near me and has similar interests, so we tend to hang out a bit more and carpool to events. He's a cool guy from Boise and went to school in Seattle. He's also one of those that is a bit removed from undergrad. We have a good deal in common beyond that too.
Thinking about Roller Derby made me realize the three things I'm craving from California. I miss my family and friends of course, but I'm talking about three activities: Awesome Burger Chain, which trumps East Coast Bias Chain easily. Disneyland. and Vegas. I am going to get a burger as soon as I land for Thanksgiving, I'm going to Disneyland the day after I get back for Christmas, and I don't know when I'm going to Vegas next. It may not be until ACPA, which is a national conference for higher ed and is in Vegas next year. Of course, I'll be going there job hunting, so I can't really enjoy Vegas for Vegas can I? Never know who is watching...
Wednesday was All Souls Day in the Catholic church. This is part of a three day holiday collection of halloween, all saints day and all souls day. November is the month of remembrance and we have a book of names of those who have recently past for whom we pray and offer up extra petitions for at every mass. I wanted to go to the all saints day mass, a holy day of obligation, but I failed. I made it to the remembrance mass for all souls, and this was for the best. The service focused on reflecting. I lit a candle for two people and added their names to the prayer book: of my friend who died in january and tenshi and spotty sister's father. I spent a lot of time reflecting on the roles those two played in my life and the grief their families still feel for their loss. The priest discussed gratitude and compassion, things we the living should hold dear, and faith and hope. Faith in a God who conquers death and hope, which he called faith of the future. Love of course runs through all these things. These virtues and the Mass left me a feeling of peace and trust that God is watching over the grieving and taking care of those who have left us.
An interesting thought during my reflection: one of my friends here at OSU decided she was going to call me Jyork, first initial last name as one word. My summercamp staff all called me this and have been waiting to see when it would catch on here. However, it was my friend who passed away this year that first called me that. She dubbed me Jyork. Fitting that today her name began to live on here in ohio.
For a long time now I've had this strange fascination with death, particularly personified death. This shows in my taste in books like terry pratchet and the sandman series, movies in nightmare before christmas and most tim burton stuff, and even my fav tv shows like pushing daisies and the death episodes of family guy. Poetry I think is a great avenue for the macabre. Since all I did for halloween was reread The Raven and the Tell-Tale Heart but edgar allen poe, I think its a good idea to celebrate this week of dia de las muertes with a poem on death. The English major in me compels me to tell you that this is a series of haiku "poems" tied loosely together under the titular topic. Enjoy...
The Faces of Death
A shadow stretches
Longer, sharper, closing in
Its sharp tip, darkness
Out comes the spider
Snatching its victims away
From intertwined webs
A hooded figure
Starched bones stretching from blackness
Sickle sharp and cold
Long awaited sleep
Preceding the grandest dream
Rest for the weary
Or sandman's sister
Punk, goth, spunky, wise yet sad
Witnessing pure life
A change from before
A new stage, unknown, unseen
Yet terrifying
A circle, cycle
Rebirth followed by redeath
Again and again
An ugly cocoon
Brown and decayed and withered
Hiding brand new wings
The last autumn leaf
Once clinging in winter's wind
Afraid of falling
A comedian
Whose jokes are funny after
Laughter fighting tears
Oh wily opponent
Sneaky and calculating
Challenger conquered
My old companion
Walking, stalking, following
United at last
Freedom from pain
From despair, from chains, from hell
Fields fit for frolicks
An end, the last scene
Lingering lines, shots, and score
The sequel pending
A sweet sunset
Oceans ripple as skies crackle
A single, green flash
Midnight's final chimes
A long descent toward darkness
Waiting for the dawn
Vanquished by my God
A gateway to paradise
Long awaited home
Peace and happiness
Quietly, lightly passing
Grand afterparty
-JTY
Listening to: Deadmau5, Ratatat, and Daft Punk which make for great homework background music.
Reading: Articles regarding multiracial students, how they identify themselves, and how they feel in predominantly white institutes like OSU. This is a growing interest of mine since I am also multiracial... more to come I'm sure
Playing: BRAWL!! I finally found some people to play with. My training has served me well thus far, thanks Dungeon Daddy, El Bandito, Heavy Spy, Math Magician, Spam Boa, and Drewe Yorke for being competent at that game :)
Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4
No comments:
Post a Comment