So as not to be categorized with Karl's "Blogs on Life Support" (cue funeral dirge), I've decided to skip my afternoon classes twice a week to devote an hour or so to blogging. Now, if this isn't dedication, I don't know what is. School is important; but blogging is something I'll do for the rest of my life...
Just kidding. Did I scare you? Is anyone still reading this thing, or has "The Daily Grab Bag" already been left for dead? Not so fast. Remember, I said I'd do my best. So here I am, long after today's classes have been completed. I don't plan to skip any of my courses for any reason (aside from illness), but I've found that I have plenty of time in the late afternoon to squander on hour or so for frivolity's sake.
School is good so far. I missed my family at first, though. It was sad to realize that I'd never live with Mom and Pop (and little bro and Joey the dog) again. *sigh* BUT, I'll be okay. I'll see them every weekend for church, etc.
I've started reading Charles Dickens' David Copperfield. We're reading it just like it was read during the Victorian era; 3 chapters at a time. Each month Dicken's published three new chapters, and the book was read in a serial fashion for 19 months.
Luckily, our course is only 3 months, and we'll be reading it more frequently. I've enjoyed the book, though, surprisingly enough. I never even thought to read it before as its' title always struck me as odd; why would someone write a book about some silly magician? It's strange... I think that if I'd tried to read this book in junior high or high school, I would have thought it was the most boring book in the world. Same with the Chronicles of Narnia, Jane Austen or any other "classics" (especially by British authors). I hope that, when I have kids, they'll have a better appreciation for fine literature than I did at a young age. Sure I read, but they were mostly dumb 80's books like Babysitter's Club, "Girl Talk," Sweet Valley High... you get the idea.
And on that intellectual note, I leave you. Dinner must be made; homework must be completed; time must be wasted! To my Orthodox brothers and sisters, blessings to you as you being the "new Church year!" :)
Oh yeah... one more thing! I've put in a resume at the local coffee "hotspot." I've heard good things from a fellow student and current employee who says I'm bound get the job. Well, we'll see; I don't want to get my hopes up. Either way, please remember me in your prayers regarding this position. I'd really like to work there, and the extra income would be ever-so-helpful!
3 comments:
I'm glad you were joking about the skipping classes or else you know I would have come after you :P I'm glad to hear things are going well though. See you tonight.
Your mom would have my head if she found out you were really skipping classes to avoid a shift on my blog roll! :)
There is a funny anecdote about David Copperfield in the new Fr. Seraphim Rose biography ... a monastic aspirant went to Mt. Athos and asked to be taught "spiritual wisdom" and wanted to know what books he should read to help him in this.
The abbot got up, went to the bookcase and pulled down an old copy of David Copperfield.
"What...?" said the young man. "This is heterodox drivel!"
"Well," said the elder gently, "If you can't learn to appreciate the love, compassion, and humanity of little David in this book, the Philokalia will be lost on you utterly."
Job,
Oh yes... you alone would be able to smack me back into gear if I were to skip classes... I fear your academic wrath and zeal! :D
Karl,
Haha, thanks for the anecdote! Oh, how humbling, how true! A good reminder to continually try to extract what is good and virtuous from secular material. If this cannot be done, then yes, the Truth will be lost when experienced full-on! Or at least is some cases :)
And yes, Mom would have both our heads.
XK
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