Seen at the Rock Wall

We merited a route!

Wrapping it up.

I was leaving the Loj for the last time (until I return to get my stuff out of storage) and had the idea to scan and post all the paper crap we had on our fridge - since nothing defines a house like the fridge ornaments. And other paper crap posted here and there.

Our recycling guidelines got pretty beat up:

Based on the SCUM manifesto, posted at a point where all we did was make batches of beer bread:

Daily inspiration:

More words of wisdom, from FDR this time:

Schedule for Prof dinners:

Our faucets were trouble:

The infamous bread recipe:

Loj on the Seat (bathroom reading):

More reminders:
And that's all for now...

Graduateddddd!

We graduated! And someone should post a picture of us in our beauteous gowns, no?

Congrats gals. It's been a fantastic year, highs and los and all the in betweens.

Happy Mothers Day!

Mom, I know you're reading this - consider it my card. Happy Moms Day to all the Lojmoms.

pithy enough?

I'm done!

A watch that doesn't tell time?

I was listening to Wait wait don't tell me on NPR, and apparently this watch company came out with a new watch that sold out in 48 hours, but the watch doesn't even tell time. It tells you whether it is day or night.... I can't even begin to comment on how ridiculous this is, so just check it out http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2008/04/25/the-300000-watch-that-doesnt-tell-time/

Hope everyone is doing well with finals, it feels weird to be done!

Notes from Underground

Popping my head out from under a pile of work to be done to report on the State of the Loj during Finals Week:

- Fair Trade Bananas are here! Bananas are historically a source of guilt for us Loj types, being problematic in both carbon footprint and human rights concerns. However, with a huge box of just-ripened, relatively guilt-free bananas left over from the Fair Trade Study Break sitting on the dining room table, we can indulge to our hearts' content. My panda colleague made a killer smoothie with some yesterday.

- The invention of a new game! Horsing around last night led to a new pastime, which came to be called BagBook. The rules are simple. Double up a plastic grocery bag and tie a simple knot, forming a small projectile. Then, using books, DVD cases, plaques for being the best house, etc., volley the bag from person to person. If it lands in the banana box, the bananas score a point. You have no idea how fun/funny this was last night.

- We won! See above.

Michael Pollan on the Revolutionary Act of Gardening

I think this guy's great. I've read a couple of his books (Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food). He's a contributor to the New York Times Magazine. This recent article, though very simple and certainly not as revolutionary as the title may suggest, obviously speaks to my heart. (I particularly like what he has written about being virtuous...) Hope it speaks to yours:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/magazine/20wwln-lede-t.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Happiness

Overall, I think I give myself an 88.
During SPW I would give myself a 95 plus homemade kahlua.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/22/science/22conv.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&sq=Happiness&st=nyt&scp=4&oref=slogin

Just read my email...

I've bought the tickets and have forwarded the e-ticket to you. I also purchased some carbon offsets, so you can feel green!

mom

Thesis Party Weekend

Earth Day

One of my new favorite blogs, WOC PhD, made a really thought-provoking Earth Day post today - about the continuing destruction of rainforests (and people's lives) in the Democratic Republic of Congo:

Instead of the traditional post on Earth Day where I highlight all the things we can or are doing to make the world better, I am writing about one the environmental disasters we are doing very little about. [...] This Earth Day, think glocally and do your part to not only reduce your own carbon footprint but also to stand in solidarity with people who are being routinely exploited physically and sexually so that corporations can exploit them economically.

Go check out the rest for more thoughts and ways to take action...

The Dalai Lama is speaking today...

Pthathalatatehahtales...

ie. Why you may have seen Liz J. walking around the Loj eating pasta shells and sauce out of jars lately. How does she do it without getting sauce on her knuckles as she digs for that last shell at the botom of the jar?? The world may never know.

NYT confirmed it, Liz J. is only "(possibly)" crazy or neurotic. My vote is she is NOT. She is, afterall, platypus-like in demeanor (say some of our cohorts at the Loj.) I think she is some kind of semi-aquatic, nocturnal fuzzball. who knows. checkitout.

Recently seen around the Loj...

Yeah that's not creepy.