So, most liberal or progressive Christians are not fans of proof-texting, which is when you use a quote from the Bible, out of context, to defend the point you are making. Like, "homosexuality is wrong because it says in Leviticus...." blah blah blah. I am one of those who is not a fan. But today I read an article that proof-texted gender equality with Genesis 1:27:

"So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God he created him;

male and female he created them."

How awesome is that? The usage was as follows: "As Christians, we believe that men and women are created equal before God (Genesis 1:27), and that the dignity of every person that comes from being made in the image of God is worth defending and standing up for."

Anyways, I liked that somebody was proof-texting inclusively, as a means to include rather than exclude a group of people. Rather than saying "the Bible says this is wrong", why aren't more people saying "the Bible says this is right"?

I spent today giving my room a much-needed cleaning. It happens occasionally. It felt good to clear out some of the dust bunnies and junk that collect behind furniture. I also threw away my Buddakan employee handbook, which felt incredible. This led to unearthing some old papers and articles from my last semester of college.

I was only taking one class, it was my senior year, and I barely cared. The papers I wrote were mediocre at best, but I somehow made it out of the class with a B. It was a "Major Playwrights" series class, focusing on the works of Susan Glaspell, a contemporary of Eugene O'Neill. I wasn't really aware that she was a major playwright, but I had read her most famous play, Trifles, in two different classes. Also, I'm always a fan of female writers and exploring their work. She didn't have much, but she led an interesting life.

As I went though the coursework I discovered, removing staples and binder clips, I stumbled upon an academic article that haunted me for much of my college career: "Mimesis, Mimicry and the True-Real" by Elin Diamond. I'd read it in at least two other courses (incidentally, the same courses in which I'd read Trifles, I think), the first being my freshman year in an intro course. At that time, it made no sense to me, I couldn't wrap my brain around the dense academic language, and I wasn't really sure what Diamond's point was (I'm still not). When I had to read it again a couple of years later, I'd grown used to that style, and was able to parse out a little more of the meat of the piece, but it still seemed pretty useless and dense. I ended up pulling it out of the hat when writing my final paper in the Glaspell class. I found a few quotes that made it sound like I had an argument and was backing it up (I wasn't).

It felt great to get rid of it today. Highlighted and picked to pieces, with my notes in the margins, it reminded me of how glad I am to be done with college. Sure, I learned a lot, and was exposed to a lot of different ideas and people. But as much as I complain about what a drag the real world is, I never want to go back to school, and I'm so glad I finished and can never read another "ivory tower" feminist writer analyzing the act of "acting."

Congratulations, to me!

So on the suggestion of an intern, I Netflix-ed Summer Heights High, an Australian tv show which may have had some HBO airtime.

Clearly, I love it because it's Australian. But, it's also incredible! Writer/director Chris Lilley stars as 3 main characters in this mockumentary set in a public high school. First is Jonah, an Islander student with a checkered discipline record, who in one episode leaves a drawing of his father sexually abusing him on a teacher's desk, in order to get out of presenting an assignment in English class. Then there's Ja'mie, a private school girl who is spending a term at Summer Heights in an exchange program. And finally a Corky St. Clair-like drama teacher, Mr. G, who has recently been made Head of Drama, and decides to write a musical about Annabel Dickson, a student who recently overdosed and died. My favorite lyric: "She's a slut with a/bad habit/a bad habit for drugs."

All 3 are played brilliantly by Lilley, so much so that it took me an entire episode to realize he was playing all 3 characters.

Check it out, asap!

Completed: #65 - Quit Buddakan!

After nearly two years in black, I gave my notice this week. I've got four more shifts left, and then I am free! Best completed goal ever!

Spring cleaning today resulted in the completion of 2 tasks, #61 and #88.

#61
It had occured to me a week or so ago that I had some wire shelving pieces borrowed from Sarah Langdale some years ago. They had been living broken down in my closet since I moved into this apartment in August 07. I pulled them out, put them together, and replaced the cardboard boxes. In the process I cleaned out the boxes, threw away a lot of junk, laughed at some of what I found (goofy photos from freshman year), and created a Good Will box.

#88
I had also been meaning to clean off my desk for a while, as it had gotten to the point where my laptop didn't even fit. So I went through all the papers and crap (some of which was relocated to my new shelving unit!), took everything off the desk and wiped it down. It was pretty gross! But now it's clean! And I think that the shelves I put together today offer a better storage solution for random things than a functional space like my desk!

Also paid off my credit card this week, completing #62. Hurrah!!!

Reviewing the list, I re-discovered #56 and put $15 into savings for all my completed tasks so far. Not bad for a month into the 1001 days.

Am wearing my high heels to work today, for the first successful time. Tried once or twice last year but always ended up changing into sneakers. I do have my flip flops with me today, and changed into them at lunch, but have re-adjusted my band-aids and am hoping to make it at least until Olli's concert! #81 accomplished!

Bought running shoes this weekend at Marshall's. Didn't want to spend a lot of money since I'm just using them for the gym and bike, so Mom suggested I go to a TJ Maxx/Marshall's type place. So, a pair of Aasics for $40! Brilliant. They are super white and clean right now, which makes me look goofy, but whatever.
#51 - accomplished!

101 Things to do in 1001 Days (by January 9, 2012)

I wrote one of these lists back in 2005, and completed about half of the tasks. The expiration date was over a year ago, so I decided to make a new list, including all uncompleted and relevant tasks from the previous list.

The Mission:

Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:

Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

1. Finish reading Anna Karenina
2.Visit the Met
3. Go to the opera
4. Cook all my meals for a week

5. Find and buy the perfect little black dress
6. Read the Bible in a year
7. Visit the Empire State Building
8. Get a facial
9. Get a massage

10. Give blood
11. Give up soda for a month
12. Not whine for a whole day (haha, yeah right)
13. Go vegetarian for a week
14. Eat no dessert or any sweets for a week
15. Learn to drive stick
16. Do my back exercises every day for a week
17. Read Madame Bovary
18. Take my vitamins every day for a month
19. Buy a Kiehl's product
20. Buy a little wraparound cardigan
21. See all five Best Picture nominees in one year
22. Go to a midnight showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in the village
23. Give up tv for a week
24. Visit Roosevelt Island (that island between Manhattan and Queens)
25. Stop swearing for a week (and keep on)
26. See the Grand Canyon
27. See Niagra Falls
28. Give to a charitable organization once a year
29. Try Afghani food
30. Write five postcards to friends, even when not on vacation.
31. Watch the sunrise from the East Coast (and the east coast of the East River does not count!)
32. Re-read From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (in conjunction with #2)
33. Buy a plant and keep it alive for 3 months (at least)
34. See all the AFI Top 100 Films
35. Do sit-ups every day for a month (and then keep on!)
36. Knit or crochet a scarf for myself
37. Go contra dancing
38. Re-Learn to play chess
39. Draft a living will
40. See the entire Rodgers & Hammerstein collection of films
41. Climb a tree
42. Complain about bad service (to the people who provided said bad service)
43. Buy something on eBay
44. Go to Serendipity
45. Visit Austin, TX
46. Visit Washington D.C.
47. Eat a cheesesteak in Philadelphia
48. Take a hip-hop/street funk class at Broadway Dance Center

49. Only use reusable bags when shopping.

50. Take a yoga/pilates class

51. Buy actual athletic shoes Completed May 2, 2009

52. Volunteer at least once a year (0/3)

52. Save at least some money every pay period

54. Put together a photo album/scrapbook from Australia/Fiji

55. Go horseback riding

56. Put $3 in savings for every goal that's completed (5/101)
57. Donate $4 to charity for every goal that's not completed

58. Drink nothing but water for an entire week

59. Participate in a protest

60. Turn off my phone for a full 24 hours

61. Find a storage solution for the contents of the cardboard boxes still in my room. Completed 5.16.09

62. Pay off my credit card and keep the balance at $0 for at least six months. Paid off 5/14/09.

63. Become conversational in Spanish (or other fun language)

64. Visit the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens

65. Quit Buddakan Gave my notice 6.9.09. Last day 6.26.09

66. Treat myself to a fancy dinner once a month. (1/33)

67. Crochet a blanket for charity.

68. Save all loose change in a jar – don’t even use it for laundry.

69. Go rock climbing outdoors

70. Have a picnic in the park

71. Grow a few (at least 3) fresh herbs in window pots

72. Learn to swim (successfully execute a stroke, not the dog paddle)

73. Go paint-balling

74. Play laser tag

75. Learn to/get certified in scuba diving

76. Read the Lord of the Rings trilogy

77. Watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy (following #76)

77. Get rid of old camera and laptop

78. Skype with somebody

79. Create and post a YouTube video

80. Write a wish on a balloon and let it go

81. Wear high heels to work at least once. Completed 5.14.09

82. Shop at the farmer’s market or a produce stand at least once a month. (0/33)

83. Buy something for myself at a thrift store.

84. Visit The Cloisters

85. Go to South America (or other continent not previously visited)

86. Go to see Shakespeare in the Park (an actual Shakespeare play)

87. Make cocktails without a mix (and not margaritas)

88. Clean off my desk at home, and figure out a way to keep it cleaner (Buy an organizer?) Completed 5.16.09

89. Go see a movie at the drive-in

90. Visit Nashville

91. Write something and have it published. Do it again.

92. Subscribe to a hard-copy news source (magazine, newspaper, etc)

93. Frame my college diploma, and mount it.

94. Give up Facebook for 1 week.

95. Bake a birthday cake for somebody else.

96. Visit Greenwood Cemetery

97. Visit McCarren Park Pool

98. Rent a ZipCar

99. Get a professional spray-on tan

100. Go camping.
101. Start a new list on January 9, 2012