The Demisemiseptcentennial

 

Yesterday was such a good day. The grad student who plays in the protest band came in to defend her thesis, and look how she did!

These speech bubbles were painted by grad students last summer, and we were supposed to write things in them, like where we would visit that summer. I put Peoria and Goofy Ridge. When we had our cleaning day some weeks ago, my coworker tried to clean these speech bubbles, but the only one she got clean was the one with terrible puns my easygoing coworker and I had written. Bummer! My visit to Goofy Ridge is eternally enshrined on the wall.

It was raining, so I walked on the third floor under the overhang, just like a few Wednesdays ago when I had that mystical experience, but I just saw this... French dog?

I heard some emergency vehicles, and they pulled up in front of the Killer Building, and the cops, firemen, and EMTs went inside. I never heard anything more about it.

There was a big party on the Union Terrace for the Demisemiseptcentennial, or 175th birthday of the University. My colleague asked if I wanted to go, then Hardingfele asked if I wanted to go, and my colleague said sure, she could come. We went to the ice cream truck, and the Chancellor handed us free ice cream, then we sat on the Union Terrace, and Hardingfele and my colleague were instant friends. They knew people in common and have kids the same age. They headed back to their offices together while I went to meet the Chair of the Central Committee (I'm the Vice-Chair). As I waited for him, I saw our department's newest Ph.D. partying with some faculty, and the Vice President of the Union (I'm the Secretary), and a guy from two jobs ago who went to our wedding but I haven't seen much since. I saw him last year at the free ice cream day, and he said he was moving back to France. When I saw him yesterday, he confirmed that he had, in fact, moved back to France, but they were in town to visit his mother-in-law, so he was meeting former coworkers at the Union. I kind of felt like, if I stood there long enough, I'd see everyone I'd ever known!

The Chair and I went to the exclusive, swanky soiree in the Great Hall of the Union. People kept bringing around delicious hors d'oeuvres like smoked salmon tarts and warm peach tarts, and the free signature cocktail was basically a fancy cranberry juice with vodka. We mingled a bit, then there was a presentation with the President of the Ho-Chunk Nation, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Chancellor. Another woman joined us, and the three of us were having a lively discussion about ageism on campus when Travalon arrived. He and I went down to the Terrace and caught a bit of the Fifth Quarter with the band playing, then we found a table and had pizza and refreshments; Travalon accidentally got a one-person pizza instead of the big one we'd gotten last week, but I was pretty full of hors d'oeuvres and didn't eat that much. There was also free popcorn. Wednesday is always Open Mic Night down at the Terrace in the summers, and some of the singers were really good! Some... not so much. The US women's soccer team was playing the Netherlands, and the game was on in the Rathskeller, so every time I had to powder my nose, I checked out the game. Tons of people were watching, which I like to see. The fireworks for the party were supposed to start at 9:30, so at 9:15 I went in to use the bathroom, and as I was heading back out, I saw the soccer team score a goal to tie the game up! But the fireworks had already started! So was my timing good or bad?? I did see most of the fireworks show, and it was very cool. Here are a couple of pictures of the parties. First, the balloon 175 at the swanky soiree.

They projected 175 onto the Union at the Terrace.

By the time we got home, it was too late to blog. Then I thought about how, even though God is infinitely greater than I am, we are co-conspirators in Operation Illumination, and I pictured us like two little children giggling as we put a May Day basket on a neighbor's front porch. Is this a weird way to picture God? It just seemed so delightful. He may be incomprehensibly great, but He stoops down to love us.

Today I was looking forward to a quiet day, but I had to take a check across campus in this hot weather. I tried to walk at a relaxed pace, and I caught the free campus bus on part of the trip both ways, but maybe the heat did get to me. I started to feel worse and worse as the day wore on. By the time we got home, I was freezing despite the excessively hot weather, and sure enough, I had a temperature over 100. After Night Prayer I suddenly threw off my blanket and felt better, and sure enough, my fever had gone down. Did my fellow Night Prayer attendees' prayers work that quickly?? I'm relieved, because I really didn't want to go to the emergency room tonight, but earlier it seemed pretty grim. Maybe I did just get overheated or dehydrated on that walk. I also visited Hardingfele to see how she uses a new program I am learning, which is different than how we plan to use it, but might also be valuable for us. Learning this program is honestly a lot more interesting than my regular work. I love to make pretty graphs to show what faculty funds look like.

Famous Hat

More Blog Monsters

 

We have more blog monsters! A couple of tween girls drew these. I really like this colorful one, which is actually a "bloog" monster.

This one looks like a scary pizzacorn.

Speaking of pizza... Behold my entry into the Blog Monster gallery, the Pizzasaurus that I bought at Meep Meepleton's during Street Fest and just painted tonight.

It is a squishy Pizzasaurus so perfect for squeezing whenever blogging gets too stressful.

Today I read an article about the use of psychedelic drugs in the treatment of psychiatric problems, and the woman writing the article had a bad trip and was frustrated at how little is known about what causes them. Not long after that she went on a hardcore meditation retreat, and that just messed her up more. She said Buddhist monks have long known that some people have bad experiences with meditation, and that it's considered a high-reward, high-risk activity. She did concede that psychiatrists using ayahuasca and peyote and other things that were traditionally used in religious rituals have divorced them from their ancient spiritual origins, but she said there's nothing to predict who will have a bad trip, such as preexisting psychiatric conditions, family background, etc. I wondered if people having bad trips were upset to experience the Divine and realize there is something more powerful than themselves. I thought of a guy I met years ago who said he hated going into Gothic cathedrals because "it makes me feel so much smaller than God, and I hate that! I like to think of him being my size." Uh, what?? So if he is weirded out by going into a building, imagine how shattered a person might be who goes on this spiritual quest and finds out that they are not the ultimate answer to everything.

At Adoration I pondered this idea, and I thought of myself. I'm not the humblest person (and it would hardly be humble of me to say I am!), but I've always had a healthy respect for the Divine as Other than myself and obviously far more powerful, intelligent, and kind. When God spoke directly to me the other day, I was in a very safe mindset to encounter Divine Greatness, because I was extremely contrite about hurting someone and crying about people feeling unloved. So I was a) thinking I sucked, and b) focused on the needs of others. Maybe it is downright dangerous to try to pursue contact with the Divine when you are not in a good state to do so. A good state might be, for example, right after Confession, when you've just gotten done thinking about how much you suck and you're also extremely grateful for the mercy God has shown you. I hadn't thought about it, partly because most of the people I know also understand God is incomprehensibly greater than they are, but some rando who wants to "see the face of God" and does some drug or meditation to facilitate that might be so deeply shaken by how much greater God is than he is that he just can't get over it. This is probably why in all religious traditions you have to work and pray and get spiritually fit for years before you start messing around with this stuff. Also, I wasn't looking for a direct encounter with God when it happened; yes, I was praying very hard for people who feel unloved to know they are loved, but I wasn't expecting a direct answer. And - this might be the most important part - I didn't just moon around over God talking to me; I went out and did something about what He said to me. That's the part so many of these people who want instant enlightenment are missing - the holy is most present in quotidian existence. To work is to pray.

Famous Hat

Operation Illumination

 

I forgot to mention that, as Jilly Moose, Travalon, and I were returning from the fair, we were driving toward the west and could see rain like a waterfall in the sky some distance away. I said if it's to the west, it will be coming this way, and it must really have been raining hard to look like a waterfall in the sky. We dropped Jilly Moose off at her car, and not long after that the rain hit. It rained really, really hard, but just for a few minutes. It was scary to drive through it - at one point Travalon couldn't even see through the windshield. (Neither could I, for that matter.) But it was a very brief rain; the one later in the evening, while we were at the health club, was a lot more help toward ending this drought.

I also forgot to mention the hilarious things Rich said during brunch yesterday. At one point he wondered when one of the regulars would show up, which surprised all of us, especially the guy in question who was sitting immediately to Rich's right as he said it. Then someone asked Rich about the Oppenheimer movie, and he said he would "try to describe it fairly fairly." I said, "Did you just say 'fairly fairly'?" and two people around me confirmed that they heard it too. It's funny - I've never thought about the fact that "fairly" can mean "somewhat" and also "justly," so Rich was going to describe the movie somewhat justly, and there's no reason the one fairly can't modify the other, but it sure sounds weird.

Today was a quiet day, but the smoke is back so I walked outside with a mask on, and my neighbor didn't want to play pickleball after work. Fortunately, when Travalon came home, he was up for swimming at the health club in the sport pool, where you can almost feel like you're outside because of all the windows. Speaking of which, all these little sparrows were looking in the window at us with great interest for a few minutes, then they lost interest and all flew away. Maybe it's us, because the other day some other people were playing tennis on the court in our complex, and the cranes weren't watching at all but just grazing in the grass like nothing was happening, yet when Travalon and I play, they can't get enough of it. Maybe we are just really fascinating to birds.

I have been working on this project now for about a week, and I felt it needed a name. I asked Travalon what I should call it but then came up with Operation Illumination before he could think of anything. After all, Niko and his ancestor helped inspire the practical response to my mystical experience, and his ancestor is labeled "Illuminor." If I succeed, maybe I will be enlightened! Travalon wondered how I would know that Operation Illumination was a success, and I have no idea currently, but maybe it will be revealed, I will keep my readers posted...

Famous Hat

Niko's (and My) First Slow Irish Jam

 

Today we went to Mass downtown again, and if the powers that be were trying to kill that particular Mass off by making it bilingual, it backfired. Today there were more people than ever, way more than when it was an all-English Mass. Afterwards a bunch of us went to Inn on the Park for brunch, then it was very hot, so Travalon suggested we go to Pheasant Branch to hike in the shade. We went out to look at the beautiful vista of the hill apparently created by First Nations people. (This photo is from last year; this year, because of the drought, the water is really scummy.)

After we had walked for an hour in that section of Pheasant Branch, we drove to another section and walked for another half hour. We headed home, and I took this photo of my black calla lily blooming. It looks more purple this year; in the past, it has been truly black.

Travalon headed off to hang out with his high school buddy while I went to the Slow Irish Jam. I had mentioned it to the whole band, since it's at the same time as our band practice (and my Irish class, but my teacher thought that was a worthy reason to play hooky), and Hardingfele said, "We're pretty experienced. We should go to the Medium Irish Jam." I said, "Remember when we went to that Body Pump class at the health club, and I took small weights because I'd never done it before, but you took really heavy weights and then the next day you said, 'If I ever suggest going to that class again, shoot me!'?" But she didn't remember. I wasn't sure if any of my bandmates would show up, but they all did, and even Hockey Girl was there! I asked if she had come to hear us, but she had brought her flute to jam. My bandmates all scrambled to find the music, but I tried to play by ear and really enjoyed it. This is because Ma and Pa Hat had the foresight to give me Suzuki violin lessons, where you learn to play by ear, while all my bandmates learned from playing written music. I'm not sure if they will want to come back, but I sure do! I brought Niko with me, and it was the first Slow Irish Jam for both of us. I am definitely not ready for the Regular Irish Jam, which happens in Cambridge and is at a breakneck pace, and I guess they're annoyed if you don't really know the tunes. Yup, not ready. Maybe after a year of these Slow Irish Jams, I'll be ready.

Famous Hat

Street Fest VI: Niko Goes to the Fair

 

This morning Travalon and I met Jilly Moose for coffee at Jiffy Lube, and we sat for quite a while in the shady outdoor seating. It was so lovely. I said I would like to go to the fair to see the animals, and Jilly Moose said she would like to go too, so we all headed to the fair. To our pleasant surprise, parking was free, since it's never free at the Expo Center. However, they only took cash for the entry fee, so we had to go to their cash machine with a $3 fee. They'll get you somehow...

The first barn we went to was the horse barn. There sure were some beautiful horses.

This is a miniature horse named Mariah, which is also my diary's name.

Next we went to the barn with the cows, sheep, goats, and small animals.

This is Shaun the Sheep! Just like the TV show!

These goats were very friendly.

This rabbit looks a bit like my good old Charlie.

These two were so cute!

This guinea pig looks like one I had in college named Phoebe.

I love the chickens, especially the fluffy ones.

The fancy chickens all had names (like Tax Evasion, I'm Stupid, and I'm With Stupid), and they seemed friendly and curious. The plain white chickens called "broilers" seemed less engaged, and Travalon said it was like they were sad because they knew their fate. I wonder if the kids raising them interact with them less, so they are less used to people. It does make you pause before eating chicken, but as you'll find out, not for long.

There were also geese and ducks.

There were a number of turkeys, mostly white ones that were as uninterested in people as the plain white chickens, but there was a big brown tom named Jimmie who looked up at me with his beady dinosaur eyes and talked to me. I sure hope they keep Jimmie for breeding, because he had a first-place ribbon and I felt a real connection to him, but who knows what his fate will be come Thanksgiving?

There was a petting zoo with miniature donkeys, baby chicks, and a week-old calf named Valentine.

After that we went to the pig barn. The pigs weren't too exciting, since they were all asleep. Travalon hoped we would see baby pigs, but those were at the petting zoo and he didn't take pictures of them there. This pig is named Snoop Dog.

This pig is named Blackhead.

Then we went to the Arts and Crafts exhibit. On the way in we got free cooler bags and portable fans from a TV station. Some of the crafts were pretty amazing. They made me think of Ma Hat, who can sew or knit anything, like cuddly rosaries - she came up with that design herself. I'll bet she could crochet something as adorable as this sweet triceratops with strawberries for horns.

I love the amazing decorated cakes.

Check out these cupcakes that look like little pies!

And cookies with fishing scenes on them!

I don't know why this mug only got a second-place ribbon. I think it's amazing!

And this cat is really well executed. I think it's made out of papier mache.

I really like the fair, because it is a way to acclaim the accomplishments of the (mainly, but not only, female) teenagers who do these things. Whether they are raising animals or decorating cakes, they are getting noticed for their talents. I approve!

After that we went to get some late lunch. There was no sign of the cart selling the platonic ideal of a pretzel, but Travalon and I were overjoyed to see the West African food cart, so he got peanut chicken and I got chicken yassa, and we split a baobab shake. I also had a cream puff, because the only time I eat them is at the fair. Jilly Moose tried a baobab shake too, and she liked it. It sprinkled a bit, so we decided it was a good time to pack it in, but I mentioned that the fair is just off John Nolan Drive, so we could potentially do Street Fest. (And how fitting, it was Street Fest VI when I had Niko with me, and the old woodcutting of the heart with the eye was Number VI, "Illuminor.") Travalon said he couldn't eat another bite, but I said there was plenty to do for Street Fest that didn't involve eating. After all, at festivals people eat, drink, and buy random stuff, so why not go to places selling random stuff?

Our first stop was Meep Meepleton's shop full of old toys on Willy Street. I got a stuffed bowl of ramen and a cat that looked like it would glow under blacklight, and Travalon got a Snuffy Smith mug. I also got a squishy dinosaur paint kit, so I will paint that and post it as my version of the Blog Monster.

So the cat does glow under blacklight!

Our next stop was A Room of One's Own Bookstore on Atwood Avenue. Travalon got an atlas of "dark destinations," like battle sites and tragedies, and I got The Prophet by Khalil Gibran and a book on the search for Paradise by Pico Iyer. We had to go way out of the way to get to Monona Drive because of road construction, and then the antiques shop there had moved, but we found a fun shop selling all sorts of random stuff. I got Rubik's Cube earrings, and Travalon got this journal, pictured with The Prophet:

If you can't read it, it says: "I'm back from the weekend with a fresh, renewed hatred for my job." They had other sassy journals there too. Jilly Moose bought some delicious-smelling soap at that shop.

Travalon and I went home and rested for a bit, then we headed to the health club to swim. We were in the outdoor pool for about half an hour when the father and son who were the only others in there suddenly bolted out of the pool, and we realized the wind had picked up and the sky had darkened. We hurried out of there ourselves, and after we had showered and gotten ready to go, we came out of the locker rooms to find a violent storm in progress. We sat on the cushy chairs in front of a big-screen TV, which was not working because the weather had knocked out the satellite service, and we waited until the storm had calmed down to a steady rain before heading home. If we get one more good rain, Travalon is hopeful we can finally get our boat off the lift. We just need the level of the river to rise a bit.

I had three calla lily plants: one that bloomed black, one that bloomed white, and one that bloomed orange. This year they were slow to come up, but finally the black one did, so I set it outside, and now it's got a blossom! The white one came up soon after, so I set it outside, and it is getting quite a few leaves but hasn't bloomed yet. There is no sign of life from the orange one, so sadly I think that one is dead. Still, I'm excited that at least one bloomed this year. I'll try to take a photo soon.

Famous Hat