Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Heat in Kentucky is not like heat in Oregon. There’s no warm up and no cool down. If it’s going to be a hot day, it’s simply going to start off and end up that way. Today was hot. Not the hottest it’s going to get, but it was unpleasant, and so I stayed inside unless I had to be outside. And I did have to be outside today. I had to be outside, because I went frantically around trying to find a way for the school to provide a document stating I am, indeed, an American citizen. In the end, I did not get to go make an attempt to get my social security card as I’d been planning, and I learned the school doesn’t actually check to see if you’re an American citizen like you say. Apparently, they just believe you. Needless to say, I’m still peeved that I’ve misplaced that card and the passport and birth certificate along with it.

And so, after that fiasco, I stayed inside until evening came and the warmth was not cooling down like Oregon but was at least pleasant. For a short while, I sat outside on one of our benches and read as little children played around the grounds in front of the dorms—little Korean kids, because the International folks don’t often go home for breaks. A bit expensive, and a lot of paperwork, I imagine. And so the children ran around and road bikes and scooters and had a grand time, and it was delightful to see. It was the only relatively productive part of my afternoon, because aside from that, in an attempt to get my mind off the stress of the late morning, I spent hours eating cupcakes and watching the entire first season of the Showtime series Weeds. If you know anything about movie network TV shows, you should already be aware that no Showtime show would feel like something you’d see on the regular networks or even other cable channels. Weeds, starring Mary Louise Parker, is the story of a Southern Californian suburban housewife, recently widowed, who, in desperation for income, turns to dealing marijuana and becomes unexpectedly successful at it. It’s the strangest premise for a show. No wait, Dead Like Me may have had one of the strangest premises, but the storylines rival each other for originality. Both are Showtime shows (though sadly, Dead Like Me no longer airs), so it’s not a surprise. It has been strangely entertaining to watch. It’s just so odd. I was stoked to realize I could watch them online via Netflix. But in the future, I need to pace myself with the episode watching. Maybe not an entire season in a day, or at least in a row. And maybe not fix or six cupcakes either. In my defense, I didn't eat much in the way of lunch or dinner. But that's a poor defense.

Tomorrow, I’m excited because I get to talk to Sarah on the phone. We have a scheduled date, three hours apart from each other at the exact same time. It is the first time we will have talked since I ended my first year at Asbury and I think it will be a very interesting conversation. Of course, what conversation with Sarah isn’t interesting? And then, in the afternoon, I will be taking Marilyn’s bike out for a test run up to Ichthus for a photographers/videographers meeting at the grounds. It will be hot again tomorrow and possibly a little wet. Like today, I will go outside only when I have to, but while I’m inside, I will be a bit more productive. A lot less movie/TV watching for me tomorrow. Maybe I’ll read a book.