So much to do, in so little time

Summer School has made me feel like Willy Wonka on his factory tour, or the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. I have to schedule my days just so when MJA and I happen to have plans for the weekend with his friends, etc. Plus he is really insistent that we go to this one park in Richmond on Sunday, so I had to block off basically 5 hours of normal study time for that as well. Not too sure why he wants to go so bad, he says it is because we haven't gone in a long time, even though we have gone twice in the past year! It is a beautiful park, however, look up Maymont and you will get what I mean! Tonight, we are going to a married couple's house to watch the UFC fights. When we do this the guys normally do jiu-jitsu in the gym/garage (which they have mats laid out in), us girls coo over their baby who was born about 7 months ago, play Wii, watch TV, we grill steaks and eat dinner and then have beers waiting for the fights to start. Its an awesome time, but we go over there at around 4pm and don't leave until 2am. Its a LONG stay, but they are good company. I just have SO MUCH reading to do so I may be forced to bring some with me which isn't the best manners but I don't really have a choice. I would like 2 more As on my transcript before the beginning of my senior year.

To do list:

For my European Lives class - just for Monday:

"Family and Friends" by Susan Brigden (pages 38-83)

Catholic Doctrinal Documents on the Seven Sacraments (7 pgs)

The Official Catalogue of Relics in the Wittenberg Castle Church (1 pg)

Tetzel: A Sample Sermon, A Contemporary Description of Indulgence Selling, The Robbing of Tetzel (3pgs)

"St. Margaret and 11,000 Virgins" by Jacobus de Voragine (pgs 162-164, 279-282)

George Huppert's "After the Black Death: A Social History of Early Modern Europe" (pgs 1-13, 67-79, 117-133, 134-148).

A one-page analysis on Brigden's "Family and Friends"


Final draft due on paper about marriage contracts from Gene Brucker's "The Society of Renaissance Florence" (they are primary sources, pretty neat actually) (3-4 pages). She mentioned to me in our paper conference that she had not seen anyone compare the daughter and daughter-in-law of this one Florentine family before, so I may try to do that if I can pull about enough ammo to defend my argument in an albeit short primary document.

I need to start reading a book I am going to review and submit at the end of the semester, journal-style. It is called "Domestic Violence in Medieval Texts" and it is secondary sources with some primary thrown in the mix. (341 pages)


For my International Relations class, here is the work I have to do by Tuesday.

Charles Kegley, Jr.'s "World Politics" text - Chapters 1-4, 9, 10, 5 notes and complete readings (about 200 pages of double-columned, double-sided text)

Readings on Chapters 6 and 7 is due on Thursday, so I may get cracking on that as well, even though its another 100 pages of text.

Additional re-writing of notes from 3 powerpoint presentations, based on readings 1-4, given to the class orally "Security Policy" "International Relations Overview" and "Theories of International Relations"

We also have a Map Quiz (woo hoo) on all of Europe on Tuesday. Not too bad, but would be embarrassed to get any of it wrong, wouldn't you? When I study geography I normally start and the bottom then work my way up and across... so, Portugal and Spain... off to a good start!


I need to start reading for the research paper due at the near-end of the summer term. It must be 10-12 pages and it is a cumulative project for the course. I think I may do women's rights and women as terrorist figures in international relations, as the professor instructing the course encouraged me to borrow two personal books of his - "The Demon Lover: The Roots of Terrorism" by Robin Morgan, and "Shoot the Women First" by Eileen MacDonald. This professor is a highly respected member of the faculty so if I exceed his expectations I know that will be to my benefit as I will be taking a few of his courses in the next year.

I always feel like when a professor says "I'd love to see you do this" they say it to you not just as a challenge, but also because they know that if you put the right amount of time into that assignment, they believe it will be a quality document. I always try to keep my ear perked up for the encouraging statements, or the "I've never seen anyone do this" kind of statement, and I like to rise to the occasion. It's probably the Alpha/Gold/Leo features in me.


What are you all up to this weekend?


Pictures/Photos:
1. White Rabbit from Lewis Carroll, adapt. Emily Thomson
2. Book cover of "The Society of Renaissance Florence" by Gene Brucker - Amazon.com
3. Map from http://www.greece-map.net/

September 11... Never, ever forget

Photo Source: http://www.memeticians.com/


Today I want to remind people of the disaster which happened on September 11, 2001. While I was fortunate enough to not lose anyone in this horrific tragedy, that does not mean my heart didn't break that day. I feel as though a good bit of my naivete cracked that day... as I still cannot forget my first images... I was at Chatham Hall, and I was a junior in boarding school there. It was during my free period, and I was in the computer lab. I checked my email, planning on walking into my Algebra 2 math class that next period. Something inspired me to go downstairs and watch TV. It was right then that they first started coverage on NBC. I immediately ran up to my math teacher, Mr. Toulson, and told him "Something bad is happening in NYC, I think you need to see this...". And he and I ran back downstairs, and the full extent of what was going on hit everyone in the Niche in the face. I sat myself up on the snack bar and held myself. I just couldn't move. I didn't want to move. I thought of my classmates and friends who were from NYC or had friends and family there. I was scared for them. I couldn't begin to fully gauge that this event could be happening anywhere else, like the Pentagon. I was so caught up in the thought that this was occurring, and right in front of me, I saw the other tower fall. I remember thinking that it was like a cascade. A waterfall effect. And if it wasn't a disaster, then it would have been an amazing engineering feat. But it wasn't. It was real. It was scary. It was incalculable to think about it.

I hope everyone remembers and respects on this day.

"Met in the Stairwell" by Stacey Randall

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news
On September 11, 2001.
Neither will I..

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.'
I held his fingers steady as he dialed.
I gave him the peace to say,
'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK... I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children.
I held her up as she tried to understand his words
And as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help.
'I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said.
'Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven.
He heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer.
I was with the crew as they were overtaken.
I was in the very hearts of the believers there,
Comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.

I was in Texas, Virginia, California, Michigan, Afghanistan...
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face.
I knew every name - though not all knew Me.
Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames;
'Come to Me... this way... take my hand.'
Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day.
You may not know why, but I do.
However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time,
Would you have reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you.
But someday your journey will end.
And I will be there for you as well.
Seek Me now while I may be found.
Then, at any moment, you know you are 'ready to go.'

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

God
[or whomever you believe in]


Stop and think and appreciate God's power, or whomever you love and find to guide you all your days, in your life.



Photo Source: http://lifeinthemix2.co.uk/


If you wrote this, please let me know:

How many of us have heard that question, "Where was your GOD when the World Trade Center and the Pentagon was attacked?" Well, I know where my GOD was the morning of September 11, 2001, and He was very busy!

He was trying to discourage anyone from taking those flights. Those four flights together held over 1000 passengers and there were only 266 aboard. He was on 4 commercial flights giving terrified passengers the ability to stay calm. Not one of the family members who were called by a loved one on one of the hijacked planes said that passengers were screaming in the background. On one of the flights He was giving strength to passengers to try to overtake the hijackers.

He was busy trying to create obstacles for employees at the World Trade Center. After all, only around 20,000 were at the towers when the first jet hit. Since the buildings held over 50,000 workers, this was a miracle in itself. How many of the people who were employed at the World Trade Center told the media that they were late for work or they had traffic delays?

He was holding up two 110 story buildings so that 2/3 of the workers could get out. I was so amazed that the top of the towers didn't topple when the jets impacted. And when they did fall, they fell inward. GOD didn't allow them to topple over, as many more lives would have been lost. And when the buildings went down, my GOD picked up almost 6,000 of His children and carried them home with Him. Reassuring His frightened children that the worst was over and the best was yet to come.

He sat down and cried that 19 of His children could have so much hate in their hearts. That they didn't choose Him, but another god that doesn't exist, and now they are lost forever.

He sent his children that are best trained for this disaster and had them save the few that were still alive, but unable to help themselves. And then sent many others to help in any way they were needed.

He still isn't finished though, He holds the loved ones left behind in His arms. He comforts them daily. His other children are given the strength to reach out to them and help them in any way they can.

And I believe He will continue to help us in what is to come. He will give the people in charge of this great nation the strength and the wisdom to do the right thing. He would never leave us in our time of need. So when anyone asks, "Where was your GOD on September 11th", you can say "everywhere!"

And yes, although this is without a doubt the worst thing I have seen in my life, I see God's miracles in every bit of it. I keep praying for those who don't believe in GOD, every chance I have. I can't imagine going through such a difficult time and not believing in GOD. Life would be hopeless

Source: http://www.allisonsheart.com/yourhand2/stairwell.html



Photo Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sis/



If you wrote this, please let me know:
*** THE BUILDINGS ***

~ The World Trade Center ~
The twin towers of the World Trade Center were places of employment for some 50,000 people. With the missing list of just over 5,000 people, that means 90% of the people targeted survived the attack.

~ The Pentagon ~

Some 23,000 people were the target of a third plane aimed at the Pentagon. The latest count shows that 123 lost their lives. That is an amazing 99.5% survival rate.

In addition, the plane seems to have come in too low, too early, to affect a large portion of the building. On top of that, the section that was hit was the first of five sections to undergo renovations that would help protect the Pentagon from terrorist attacks. It had recently completed straightening and blast proofing, saving untold lives. This attack was very sad, but a statistical failure.

*** THE PLANES ***

~ American Airlines Flight 77 ~

This Boeing 757 that was flown into the outside of the Pentagon could have carried up to 196 people, yet 64 were aboard. 78% of the seats were empty.

~ American Airlines Flight 11 ~

This Boeing 767 could have had up to 262 people aboard, but carried 92. 74% of the seats were unfilled.

~ United Airlines Flight 175 ~

Another Boeing 767 that could have sat 262 people had 65 people on board. Again, by God's grace, it was 81% empty.

~ United Airlines Flight 93 ~

This Boeing 757 was one of the most uplifting stories yet. The smallest flight to be hijacked with 45 people aboard out of a possible 196 had 84% of its capacity unused. Yet these people stood up to the attackers and thwarted a fourth attempted destruction of a national landmark, saving untold numbers of lives in the process.

*** IN SUMMARY ***

Out of potentially 74,280 Americans directly targeted by these inept cowards, 93% survived or avoided the attacks.

The hijacked planes were mostly empty, the Pentagon was hit at it's strongest point, the overwhelming majority of people in the World Trade Center buildings escaped and a handful of passengers gave the ultimate sacrifice to save even more lives.

Source: http://www.allisonsheart.com/yourhand2/stairwell.html