(no subject)

[katekat]

I have been an emotional spaz.  I actually had tears in my eyes last night during Obama's victory speech.  I am actually, against all of my cynical tendencies, filled with hope. 

On the way home from school today, listening to NPR, they had a 10-second or so quote from Pelosi where she said she'd be reintroducing a child-health care bill that Bush had vetoed with the hopes that Obama wouldn't and the lightbulb went off over my head.  Not that I expect Obama to change the whole world.  Or do everything the way I think he should.  On the other hand it was SUCH a mental relief to contemplate the President at least paying lip service to ideas I actually care about.  And possibly voting for things I agree with.  It was like some tension I hadn't even realized I'd been holding in was GONE.  I've literally cringed my way through 8 years of Texas Twang (and I'm sure others will agree with me that when you accidentally program your clock radio to wake you up with NPR in the morning, and they carry some presidential speach, it can ruin the entire day to wake up to Bush's voice declaring he's taking away more rights, or sending in more troops, or some other awful crap.)  It is an awesome thing to see an end to that ahead.

That being said I am now freaking out about how much work I have to do as the semester rolls inexorably forward.  Tomorrow night is the department's annual mixer and I'm debating with myself about going - on the one hand it's the one social event of the year for our entire department.  On the other I have grad school applications I haven't even started, a paper to write for my Lit Crit class, a translation analysis to work on, and a thesis to draft.  Tonight I've been in high gear reading The Scarlet Gang of Asakusa (Kawabata), Seji Lippitt's chapter on it from Topographies of Japanese Modernism, then trying to prep my presentation on Maeda Ai.

Truth be told I'm burned out tonight and going to take the evening off from this point forward.  South Park awaits.

Comments

[gray-ghost.livejournal.com]

Yes - me too! Noam Chomsky was on NPR tonight - and he was kind of a buzz kill - but I'm still feeling really hopeful about the way things are going. And I keep recalling an interview with Gore Vidal (in LA Times Book Review - I think) in which he said that because the United States is a patriarchy, people always emulate the guy at the top (the President). So when FDR was President - everyone was walking around trying to dress and talk educated and refined. The same thing happened when Kennedy was President (and women started dressing like Jacky). So for the past 8 years under Bush, a stupid war-mongering pig has been the ideal people have had to emulate. Well - that changed!!!!

Another thing I like is that for the first time in a long time - I actually feel like I belong in this country and not someplace else. It's like having a weight removed or some unseen thread of tension was released.

[katekat]

how was NC a buzz kill? was he talking about how conservative Obama really is?

Hmmm, interesting about the Gore Vidal thing (and actually kind of scary but i can totally see it being true). Although I have absolutely no perception of who laura bush was so thank god i felt no obligation to emulate her.

Yeah, me too. Not only belong, but have ownership of things in a weird way. It's pretty awesome. I was talking to Neil wondering if our parents felt this way when they finally got rid of Bush/Regan and got Clinton into office (I was too young to be very politically aware then). He thinks it's more like Kennedy.

[biodamped]

Hey you! I admit, i have no interest in our own politics usually, much less yours, but i spent the entirety of yesterday GLUED to the BBC news broadcast watching states change to blue and red and cheering every time he got another Electoral College. I don't read the news much, but i read every article and the transcript of his speech and i got teary. The world feels like such a better place right now.

And on a study night, my poor overwrought brain sends yours sympathies. Thank god it's nearly my summer. Two (not even two, now) papers to go and then NEW ZEALAND!

there will be photos, yes. In the meantime, take care of you and enjoy your night off. Miss you and our random online exchanges. ♥
(PS: have you heard from EB? Cos i reckon she's probably halfway over the moon by now. All of her campaigning and everything :P)

[katekat]

I completely understand - we flipped back and forth between like a million stations and just ... got cracked OUT on the news. And I completely agree with you - it's just a better day than it was two days ago.

*pets your poor brain* I can't believe you're so close to done! I ENVY YOU with a fire-y burning envy (that in no way eclipses my happyness that you're gonna be done, because if anyone's had a stressy semester it seems like it's been you!) what's this New Zealand trip? I've ALWAYS WANTED to go there! And there better be photos!

I actually got sleep last night that didn't involve dreams of me missing assignments *or* taking tests so I'm really pleased. I know, i've been crap on the email exchanging too. someday i will be back in good form!

(and I haven't - she took a trip to visit her GrandMa and I have a feeling she's busting at the seams happy)

[biodamped]

Hahaha, done for this year sweetie. I have next year to go, then Honours, then the dreaded post-grad work.

New Zealand is to visit my dad, who i haven't seen for about 2 years, and my grandma, who i haven't seen in about 15. And also because as a half-Kiwi, i really feel i should see it.

Don't you worry, there'll be loads of pics.

Yay for sleep. I even managed some of my own last night! Today's study has been better: 600/1000 words done and it's all flowing nicely at the moment. Both final papers are being handed in tomo, i'm getting jabbed with a vaccine and them - HOLIDAY TIME WOOHOO.