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December 14, 2004
100th Post!
I'm taking a class in Ireland during January, and I picked up some of the materials today. One of the sheets is entitled "Yank's Guide to Irish Jargon." Here are some of my favorites:
All you all right? -- Can I help you?
the holy hour -- closing time
browned off -- annoyed
me ould fella -- the husband
the mott -- girfriend or wife
I'm knackered / banjanxed -- I'm pooped
put it on the long finger -- procrastinate
eejit (my Dad's favorite) -- idiot
lav, loo, jax -- toilet
caubeen -- flat woven men's cap (what I call a Fivel hat)
fairy lights -- Christmas lights
monkey nuts -- peanuts in the shells
full, tight, had a drop taken, maith go leor, langered -- drunk
I can't wait to put some of these to use!
Posted by Megan at 05:42 PM | Comments (3)
December 13, 2004
The Object in Motion
This poem was quite a challenge. I'm still not enthralled with it, but I think it's as finished as it's going to get.
The Object in Motion
We both have blue eyes,
curly brown hair,
and the dire need to get away.
That is how you know
that what keeps me sane
are the motorcycle rides,
because the same is true for you.
Suddenly the engine rumbles to life
like a never-ending roll of thunder,
and you tell me to hop on.
We leave everyone else
standing in the driveway -
leave the residential streets,
out to the winding roads
with only occasional headlights passing.
You yell back to hold on
against the force of acceleration -
If I would have studied harder in physics
I would have known the formula,
but I knew from experience
objects at rest tend to stay at rest.
So to stay with the object in motion,
I burry my face in your back and hug you tight
as the growl of the engine becomes a roar
I'm content, knowing for certain
that as long as I don?t let go
I won't get hurt.
I make myself look up
against the force of the wind
to see the tree trunks racing
in the opposite direction,
the blur of leaves passing
like the rush of water down a waterfall.
The bright lights of the town
scream in the distance,
trying their best to outshine
the soft, mysterious glow
of the stars against the black
backdrop of the night sky.
We lean into the curves,
Taunting the mastered pavement
Close, but not quite.
Cresting a hill, the road stretches out ahead,
coaxing us farther into the unknown.
I don't ever want to turn back until
Jeans are not enough
to keep out the icy breeze -
I shiver as we relent and return
to the houses, cars, people,
then to separate houses in separate states,
and I sit back down at my desk
and stare at the picture of you
on your motorcycle.
Posted by Megan at 10:14 PM | Comments (5)
December 12, 2004
Keep Your Finger
Maybe from lack of experience I'm missing the power of the symbolism here, but I'm struggling to understand this:
VICTORVILLE, Calif. - When Marine Lance Cpl. David Battle learned he'd either have to sacrifice his ring finger or the wedding band he wore, he told doctors at a field hospital in Iraq to cut off the finger.
Now, the guy certainly earned his last name, and I guess it's the thought that counts. But for the record, should anyone need to know my opinion for future reference, a ring is replacable!
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Quote of the Day:
Young writer: Do you think I should put more finre into my stories?
Writer Somerset Maugham: No. Vice Versa.
Posted by Megan at 05:15 PM | Comments (3)
December 07, 2004
Purpose
I realize I'm a little behind on this one, but this is my second attempt to make it through Rick Warren's book The Purpose Driven Life. The first time I tried reading it, I became frustrated almost immediately, because I was looking for more practical, concrete ways to figure out what I was supposed to do with my life. I thought, "I know I was created for a purpose, and I know I was made for God's pleasure, but what the heck am I supposed to do?"
Either I'm in a different mindset this time, or I just gave up too soon last time, but the book is finally speaking to me. I wrote my final essay for my Counseling class the other day, and one of the topics we were supposed to address was our goals for the next stage of our life. Here's what I crapped out:
One goal I have for the next period of my life is to develop a sense of purpose about what I want to accomplish with my life. My life up to this point has been a process of dabbling in many different areas, and I would like to finally decide what I am best at and enjoy most, and to focus on that.
Another goal I have is to continue to develop relationships. My time in college has been a wonderful opportunity for me to meet a multitude of wonderful people. It has also helped me discover that relationships are one of the greatest sources of joy in my life. Often by the end of the week, I am discouraged or overwhelmed with work from classes, my job, and my other activities. On the weekend, however, the time with friends makes all of the worries of the week disappear. I know now that even if my job is not the most satisfying experience, my life will still be satisfying if I can go home and relax with friends and family.
I have also learned, however, that even though people add a significant amount of substance and happiness to my life, they are not perfect. I have also been let down by many friends and even by family, and even though it has not always been intentional, it still hurts. Because of this, my last and most important goal for myself is to continue to get to know God and develop my relationship with him. I've learned that he will never let me down, even if I let him down.
When I read it again now, I wonder if the first and last paragraphs conflict. Can I really decide on my life's purpose while seeking God?
A.W. Tozer said, "The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven't yet come to the end of themselves. We're still trying to give orders, and interfering with God's work within us."
We aren't God and never will be. We are humans. It is when we try to be God that we end up most like Satan, who desired the same thing.
We accept our humanity intellectually, but not emotionally. When faced with our own limitations, we react with irritation, anger, and resentment. We want to be taller (or shorter), smarter, stronger, more talented, more beautiful, and wealthier. We want to have it all and do it all, and we become upset when it doesn't happen. Then when we notice that God gave others characteristics we don't have, we respond with envy, jealousy, and self-pity. . . .
Sometimes it takes years, but eventually you discover that the greatest hindrance to God's blessing in your life is not others, it is yourself -- your self-will, stubborn pride, and personal ambition. You cannot fulfill God's purposes for your life while focusing on your own plans (Warren 79, 83).
There's my answer. I can't decide. I have to surrender to God and then watch as he reveals my purpose to me.
Posted by Megan at 03:08 PM | Comments (5)
December 04, 2004
Paranoia
I was eating lunch with Kristin in the caf yesterday, and there was a lull in our conversation. At that very moment, we heard, clear as a bell, "Megan Blair?" uttered from a table to my back. Instinctually, I turned around to see a guy from my poetry class talking to two other guys who I did not recognize.
"What are they talking about?" I asked Kristin, bewildered.
"I don't know. Did he see you?"
"I don't know."
We eavesdropped for the next few minutes until I could hear the same guy mention something about "political organizations." Then the entire conversation formed in my head. The two guys who I didn't recognize knew me as College Republican Chair. The guy in my class knew me as just another classmate. As has happened before, the two Megans intersected, and caused momentary bewilderment.
You see, I avoid being overtly political in my classes. Most of them really have nothing to do with politics, and I think it is inappropriate when professors take completely unrelated partisan jabs in class.
Also, as spineless as it may seem, I want my profs and classmates to respect and like me. I honestly don't think nearly as many of them would give me a chance as a student and a person if they knew my political opinions. Why would I say such a thing? Because I've made friends with overt liberals before, with buttons on their backpack such as "Save a forest, cut down a Bush," but as soon as they find out that I support the guy, they completely ignore me.
Being a little on the self-conscious side, I have always taken comfort in the fun fact I learned in my psychology courses: Average Joe, being innately self-centered, thinks that other people pay more attention to Average Joe than they really do. Not anymore. Now I know that people are watching my every move.
Posted by Megan at 01:23 PM | Comments (2)
December 02, 2004
That's My Boy
Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN), whom I helped elect in 2002, had an article in the opinion section of the Wall Street Journal yesterday. The Senate Permanant Subcommitte on Invesigations, with the extraordinary leadership of Sen. Coleman as its Chair, uncovered more layers of the UN Oil for Food Scandle than anyone (except for a few key world leaders) ever thought existed. In his article, Sen. Coleman details how the discoveries of the investigation have led him to conclude that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's resignation would be prudent, to say the least.
On three: one, two, three - NORM!
In other exciting news, the Governor of my hometown, Mike Johanns, has been nominated by our beloved President as the new Secretary of Agriculture. This is only the beginning of Nebraskans taking over the world. Oh, but who shall unseat our unsavory Democratic Senator now, you ask? Well, I'm glad you asked -- I would like to propose none other than 3rd District Congressman and former Husker football head coach Tom Osborne.
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Quote of the Day:
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (at a dinner party): May I have a breast?
Hostess: In this country, it is customary to ask for white or dark meat.
Churchill (the next day, on a card sent to the hostess with an orchid): Madam, I would be obliged if you would pin this on your white meat.
Posted by Megan at 06:14 PM | Comments (1)