cats and dogs

I wasn’t intending to write another post before break, but I changed my mind. Today, as my friends and I were walking to commons for lunch, we saw a bunch of dogs by the wall (a general hang-out place on the residential side of campus). Everyone knows that petting a cat or a dog can be really therapeutic and calming, so the college had asked campus staff with pets to bring them as a sort of mid-midterm pick me up. It was great! At first, I was petting a bunch of dogs but really missing my cats (I am more of a cat person), but the Starburst the cat showed up. Mmmmmmm, bliss. It was great to see so many happy people. I even saw my lovely coworker Emily, petting an enchanting chap named Murphy.

Gallstones, The Voter Registration Program, and the mannequin inhabiting the Java Joint

First off I would like to apologize for the general boringness of my blog recently. It has been a busy and chaotic week, as you can see from all of the notes I had to write on my hand (and that wasn’t even HALF of it)

Yesterday in my organic chem lab we ground up gal stones, collected by my professor from the local hospital, in order to obtain data about their cholesterol content. This picture features one of my friends modeling the “we are doing things with biological materials that we don’t want to incorporate into our systems” look that is so very popular in Chamberlain (the science building).

As you may be able to tell by my bio, I am very active in the political scene on and off campus. This year someone started the “Voter Registration Project.” Basically, this project works in conjunction with the city clerk to get as many voters as possible registered at the college for the presidential election BEFORE the election (though Wisconsin does have same-day registration). About 22 of us got deputized yesterday to officially be able to register voters in the Beloit area. I then got elected to the executive bored of the group. We are going to be planning several voter registration drives in-between now and the 2008 election.

The Java Joint is one of the best things about academic side of campus (says the caffeinated coffeeholic). There are a ton of tables and couches down there, as well as a pinball machine; it is a great space to hang out in. Since my time on campus, they have really improved the products served there. We have many organic teas that taste great, and fair trade coffee that is way better then regular cafeteria coffee (though I have an adequate stock of coffee and Italian espresso in my room). This semester the visiting artist (every semester we have a new one, they teach seminar classes and give lectures and things), put a sewing mannequin at the entrance to the Java Joint along with a bunch of art supplies and asked students to contribute to the community project. Since then, I have fondly watched as more and more has been added to the mannequin.

Well, I am off for a week starting Friday. Have a good week, don’t forget to breath.

Fall break plans and The Round Table

Only one more week until break…I am so excited. As much as I love Beloit, I really am in need of a trip back home (the full hour drive, how will I ever survive?) And I need to see my Madison friends. And take a walk down State Street. And I need a day where I can sleep in and not feel like I should be doing work of some sort. And a home cooked meal. And a meal at my favorite Indian restaurant where the waiters know me. And a trip to the bank. As you can see, I REALLY need a break.

Things here are….busy, to say the least. I have a ton of work due on Wednesday, but once I am done with that I am practically done for a week! Three of my four classes got canceled on Friday, which means I can leave a bit early then originally anticipated.

I am a published author! Granted it is only in the school newspaper, The Round Table. I wrote an article last semester for my journalism class on mediation, and this semester my professor suggested I submit it to The Round Table. I did, and today when I opened the paper, there it was. I have not read it yet. I feel so weird about it. I spent all this time on crafting my article, researching for it and conducting interviews, and of course writing it. Now it is laid bare for all who choose to read it. It is an interesting feeling.