Holidays

Hey, I wanted to say it was great being home for the holidays and that I really enjoyed having a bit of time off. As a parting gift, I wanted to share a song on iTunes that I found I really enjoy and that I think you might like as well.

It's called "Numb," by Ben Lee. Look it up. Download it. If you don't like it, I'll give you the dollar back.

Last Calls...

So, Irene left for Florida last night and my roommate Steve went back to England on Wednesday, which has left me all alone in Boston with nothing to do but find the perfect Christmas present for each and everyone of you (unless I already got you something ... which reminds me: Don't open packages sent to 28 Greenvale to my attention!)

Deconstructing Narcissus

I've always been a big proponent of the morals and lessons that can be drawn from our society's myths and legends. It's one reason that, despite my uncertain relationship with the church, I've always been an advocate of Sunday School. That and general cultural literacy.

One non-Christian story that really struck me growing up was the tale of Narcissus. So in love with his own image that he couldn't pull himself away from a remarkably calm pond to eat or drink. If that doesn't promise an unfortunate and ironic end to the self-involved, it's hard to see what could.

But then, does it really? What if we exchanged Narcissus staring at his own image in a pond with something else? Whatever strikes you as equivalent. For example: What if he and his dearly beloved starved to death staring at each other across a table full of food? Are the two comparable? Obviously there's a moral to my hypothetical story, but it doesn't involve narcissism. Maybe it's closer to "don't let fanciful longings and emotional attachment separate you completely from the necessities of life?" Or something like that?

So, my question is, does the death of Narcissus really tell us all that much about narcissism? Or is it more some odd, psychological problem that afflicts those who lounge around small bodies of water? If so, does it matter if Narcissus' death wasn't or wouldn't be unique to someone who was narcissistic?

Big thoughts about the world, right? Love, and I'll see you soon.

Thanks!

Thanks for the glasses (and thanks, from Irene, for the warm, warm socks and tasty, tasty coffee). We've made out quite well from Thanksgiving, so I can only imagine how we'll walk away from Christmas.

Though I've learned that it's hard putting a place together. There are a lot of moving parts.

I do take comfort from the success of my peers, however. As a matter of fact, happily settled Mike Dickensheet has a 30th birthday party this weekend, and there's a notable list of invitees. From the neighborhood, the event is being hosted by his wife, Bridget Geiman, and Sarah Brumfitt is attending. Max will be there and Jesse Larson's brother Tim (Jesse having returned to Holland). Matt Lackowski was invited (the tall boy who was the VP's son). Dave Webster will be there with his wife, as will Ryan Surber. The gang's all here.

Well, not all there of course. Irene and I will be in Boston--although not without our social events to attend. Patrick, from my soccer team, is hosting his holiday party this weekend.

Still, Mike's 30th would have been fun. I do take comfort from the fact the Westminster kids are still hanging out together, though. No 30th birthday party. No graduation ceremony for Chris Gavin. It's difficult to be far removed.

Chicago Photos

I finally put up the photos from the Chicago trip. There are a couple of unrelated running ones of Irene and I at the end. Pay them no mind. Here's my favorite:



What a cutie.

Also, note the addition down and right of the Shelfari Bookshelf. Remember when I had you sign up for that? I'm only adding books as I finish them, so you can be on top of what I'm reading. Cool.

More later. Oh, and tough news about that Illini loss, huh Dad?

The End of the Thanksgiving

I wanted to take a minute to let you each know that Irene and I both had a great time over Thanksgiving. I know that occasionally we took a bit longer to get ready than might have been strictly desirable, but otherwise I'm hoping we did our part too.

So, on Sunday, we went to Trinity Church on the South Side (400 W. 95th Street). Deep in the South Side. The church is UCC, which is the denomination Irene belongs to. Not that that alone would have made the 100+ street trip worthwhile. The church is also the home of a certain Democratic Presidential candidate. The increased publicity caused by that fact put some pressure on the church and its Pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. Nothing's sacred.

The service was unlike any other I've been to--starting with the fact that it was two and a half hours along. Ouch.

Given that it started at 11am and it took an hour to get back from on the El, by the time we made it to Pizzeria Uno's, there wasn't any wait at all. Well, that's not exactly true. You have to wait an hour for the pizza to cook... Good thing we let that bird fly when we did.

The airport was a nightmare. There was no getting on an earlier flight. There was only getting on our regular flight, desperately attempting to not flip out and attack some obnoxious Starbucks' barista. Holiday travel. Thank the Lord the pizza was worth it.

The Holiday Season

I was going to post some pictures of my new place, of which I'm quite proud, but I've temporarily misplaced the cable that connects my camera to my computer. A lot of work has gone into putting 277 Highland Ave., #2 into shape. Work by not only myself, Irene and my roommate Steve, but also my friend Kevin (who put up our dartboard--he's just a handy guy). And did I mention Irene? She not only did she secure several pieces of our furniture, including our coffee table and my bedroom desk, but she also went through the trouble of painting several pieces of it. A very nice "beer barrel brown."


I'll have pictures up soon. In the meantime, lacking my camera cable I got to thinking about things I need, and what others might need. You know, for Christmas. Dad put the kibosh on the Beer of the Month club so the field is wide open. Feel free to leave suggestions in the comment section (I might clue Amy in to this little project, too, so she can chime in).

As for me, both you and Irene have done a good job supplying me with dishes. The next logical steps are pots and glasses. After getting those pictures from Uncle George, though, I realized that I don't think I've ever seen the entirety of your wedding pictures. I'd like to. Maybe you two could make an album of copies of them for me? How's that for a fun little project?

Oh, and I was also looking over things to do in Chicago, and it looks like the Museum of Contemporary Art has some good stuff going on (again). And we still need to get some proper deep dish pizza. Irene and I'll need to restock carbs after running the Naperville Turkey Trot.

Gobble, gobble.