(no subject)

[sam_gamgee]

WW: +1.4 (-48.2 total)

I kinda figured this. And I'm being good this week, or at least attempting to. (Stop laughing.)

This is one of those posts where I've been meaning to do it all week and then kept getting sidetracked by other shiny things - like writing (which I've actually been doing quite a good deal of).

Anyway...

Last Sunday I went "up home" (aka Tamaqua and Pottsville, PA) with my dad and grandparents so we could visit some family and put flowers on some of the family's graves. I had never actually done this before (the flowers on the graves part), so it was a cool experience. A few of the people I actually knew - like my Mamam Hartwig (my great-grandmother), and Uncle Bob and Aunt Margie (my granddad's brother and sister-in-law). Then, when we were wandering around another cemetary looking for my grandfather's maternal grandmother's grave and we found it as well as his uncle's, aunt's, and cousins' (these were a couple plots with one headstone). And I had to laugh when my grammy called my granddad's Uncle Phil "sissified". And she was like, "You do know what that means, right?" And I was still slightly giggling when I said that I did. So, all in all, it was a good day.

I am very happy this week is over. Since it was finals week, things were rather crazy with book buyback and everyone getting ready to leave and/or graduate. But at least I couldn't say that I didn't have anything to do. And we had a booksigning with Jeff Shaara yesterday, since he was our commencement speaker this year. But some of the upsides were seeing this Aussie that looks like Mark Lutz with curly hair and getting to talk to him for a bit, as well as having a good conversation with a Scotsman who was over visiting family. Also, seeing a guy's shirt that said, "Don't let your mind wander - it's too little to be outside by itself."

This morning my dad and I got up early and walked down Main St (along the way getting a bagel to split and coffee - him, and iced Earl Gray tea - me) and then back up Cleveland Ave to see the banners that the graduating seniors had put out - a number of which were quite funny. I was very proud of myself and I know my dad was too because I did it quite easily (and when he suggested taking a break, I agreed - not wanting to look a gift horse in the mouth, just in case). This is pretty big because two years ago when I graduated "the first time", I couldn't walk from the stadium back to my dorm, which is *at most* a 1/2 mile and this morning's walk had to be around 4. Yes, 4 miles. So, yay! there.

I feel like I had more I wanted to say, but I can't remember now, so I'll just leave you all with this quote from Andrew Sullivan's column from the May issue of "The Advocate" that I really like and agree with and wanted to share.

[Benedict XVI] doesn't have logic or reality on his side. We have truth on ours. In opposing him we shouldn't demonize or slander him. That only hurts us. We should simply argue fearlessly with the compassion and confidence that comes with knowing that, in the end, the truth will win: that gay people are made in the image of God; that our quest for fidelity is as Christian as any heterosexual's. That's my faith. And that's the core of the church we must try to save.

Comments

[kimbeast.livejournal.com]

HI Adrain It is Kim Thorp I was wondering if it is okay if I add you on my friend list I never knew you had one til today :( ( looks sheepish and stupid)

Kim Thorp

[sam-gamgee.livejournal.com]

Hey, Kim. Sure, it's okay if you add me. :-D And don't feel bad. I didn't know you had one either.