responses

I am so excited that you have found some musical outlets, Katie. Aside from my random singing to myself and being part of a church choir for our church's 100th anniversary mass, I have not really been involved in music this year. A friend here has been looking a little into joining a choir at Indiana State that is open to the public. If they go by the semester and if it is free (or inexpensive), I might try to tag along to that. Otherwise, I secretly really want to try out for the community theater in the spring. They are doing a musical murder mystery. How fun would that be?! It looks like the cast is only 10 people and I have not acted in a long time, plus I have no idea how competitive the community theater is here, but I might try out anyway. We shall see.

Yay for you and your friends wanting to change the world Margaret!! I understand feeling like our ideas might be too simplistic or too idealistic (maybe mine are sometimes), but think about where realistic and complex ideas have got us... I think the world needs way more people like you-- wanting change, believing in change, bringing about change. There are plenty of people who think that change isn't possible. So, please keep being a dreamer, a challenger, a hope-giver! I'll get off my soapbox now, but I did want to encourage you. Your post reminds me of a speaker I heard this weekend. He talked about the need to move from rational people to faith filled people. I heard him at the School of the Americas/Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation protest this weekend (I finally got to go!). It was cool to see the 20-25,000 people who showed up to say that they wanted to see the US make a positive change. There was such a diversity of people there: nuns, hippies, anarchists, priests, lay people, young people, old people... all coming together to sing and protest and learn more. The weekend was definitely different than I expected, but it was good.

Teenie-- hello friend! I have not forgotten about you. I hope you are knocking the socks off of those law books (because they have feet, of course) and law profs etc. I'm sure you are doing wonderfully! I look forward to more crazy law school stories as they come!

I will be home this weekend from Wed night to Sun afternoon. We have some family coming in from Georgia (Aunt Patsy and Uncle Ronnie- Marg knows them!) and also at least one, if not both, of my volunteer friends are going to be coming in with me (since their homes are too far away for a long weekend). Therefore (I feel like I am doing a proof, but I do realize that I did not set up the first part correctly. My proof would not pass the Highstone beautiful and elegant test), the weekend will be a little hectic for me. Still, it would be nice to see you all!! Maybe we could do turkey trot (at walk pace so we can talk and so no one could notice how out of shape I may or may not be). Or maybe we could find a time for breakfast or something. Otherwise, I will definitely have to see you all for Christmas...

my love to you all,
Laura

I can't wait for Thanksgiving

I miss playing Eric Whitacre. I am definitely taking advantage of all that I have at Purdue this year. My favorite class is probably a class called "OIL!". I've learned an incredible amount about politics of oil and also some about how oil is formed. Taking classes outside of your major is the best idea ever. I am also applying to graduate schools to study environmental toxicology. It appears that the end of college isn't in the near future.

I spend a lot of time these days simply enjoying the company of a few close friends. This weekend we took a road trip to Minnesota and debated current energy policies and if there was anything we could do to change them. The mindset of college kids is that we can change the world and that a few simple changes could make a huge difference. I'm sure that in the real world it's not that simple at all. It gives us something to talk about though.

Frisbee has been at a minimum this semester because I sprained my ankle really badly at the beginning of Oct. I haven't really been able to run on it yet although I've been trying. It's hard to sit and watch all of your friends continue to be active and play a sport that you love. I would definitely be up for a slow jog or maybe a walk through the Turkey Trot. I'll be heading home on Wednesday of next week and I'll be around until Sunday. I would love to see you kids.

warmly

Hi ladies,

I am ever enchanted by all of your words. Laura, I can't believe you made me get that Mikado song stuck in my head. Ahhh the forced laughter. Remember how great that old choir room was? Ah...windows.

In any case, I just wanted say hi to everyone. After three months here I think I'm starting to settle in a bit more. I'm actually playing in a band - Margaret, I'm sure you would really appreciate our director - he reminds me in many ways of Mr. P and we're playing things like "October", "Festive Prelude" and "Variants on a Medieval Tune". We're also doing a band arrangement of "Magnum Mysterium", which I remember fondly from choir. It's odd, being part of these ensembles - (I'm in two - the adult band comprised mostly of elderly men and/or professional jazz and dixieland musicians, and Dr. Taylor's college band, which was devastated by Katrina and is comprised of mostly sarcastic and ambivalent college folk) - it makes me think of High School so much. I guess it's nice to have something feel familiar in an environment that has been otherwise completely foreign.

I hope everyone is doing well - Margaret I envy you for still having school. I miss college so much. Is anyone going to be in town for Thanksgiving? Maybe willing to run the Turkey Trot? Let me know!

Missing the North and all you beautiful people hailing from there,

KS