List #8

Podcasts I’m currently loving:

1. Escape Pod (science fiction short stories)
2. 3 Wine Guys (wine notes)
3. The Economist (audio edition)
4. Metamor City (cyberpunk and fantasy fiction short stories)
5. PodCastle (fantasy fiction short stories)
6. The Archers (British Radio Drama about a farming community called Ambridge)

Catching Up

Hi folks, sorry for the extended absence. I’ve been feeling more introspective than usual lately, which means a lot of fast and furious scribbling in my written journal but not much on the blog. I also managed to catch a yucky cold last week, and that has slowed down the mental progress a wee bit While I go sip on some homemade chicken soup, here’s a quick recap of what’s been going on:

• During a visit to my advisor’s office a few weeks ago, we concluded that I can graduate in December!!! Woo hoo! I’m really excited and much of my attention has been absorbed with what comes next. My future prospects seem limitless, as deciding on what to do is both liberating and daunting. Being about the business of a having a career that has meaning and purpose is important to me. This begs the question, what exactly do I want? And how do I fit that into a reasonable goal? All circumstances point towards being absolutely clear on the answer and not being afraid of going after it. I predict more entries on this subject will follow.
• In my last entry I wrote about big plans for volunteering at the local hospital, but so far nothing has happened on that front. I had an interview last week Friday with the volunteer coordinator, but wrote it into my calendar as happening THIS Friday (doh!). I didn’t realize the discrepency until last Friday when I was in an airplane cruising at about 35,000+ feet above and a couple thousand miles east of Denver. Oops. Fortunately for me, the coordinator was very understanding and has re-scheduled my interview for two weeks hence. Whew.
• I’ve broken down and decided to purchase a car. I’ve been in Colorado for a little over 4 years without one, but the time has come. My schedule is so tight nowadays that the additional 4 or 5 hours I’ll save by driving to work/school a few days a week instead of riding the bus will be wonderful. This means more time at the gym, playing the cello or doing whatever else makes me happy and sane Ahhhh, sigh of soothing relief.
• A little over a week ago I had the pleasure of visiting the Stiles African-American Heritage Center in the Four Points area of Denver. It was an amazing visit, and I am eager to return and foster a closer relationship with its founder, Ms. Grace Stiles, and her community. I also made a quick tour of the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library just 2 blocks away and was blown away by the rich history of the Four Points area. I regret that I’ve lived in the area for so long and have not connected with the community–and now, I’m preparing to leave it! I have the wild idea of interviewing several members of the Four Points business community and making a documentary as a testament to their acheivements and as a record of my experience there.
• Another tip of the hat goes to Denver for a wonderful spot in town called the Mercury Cafe (thanks Micah!). The decor, wine and food were awesome! I highly recommend the place to anyone who is looking for an eclectic, subdued dining atmosphere.
• Due to popular demand…well, okay, just one person’s comments (smile)…I’m working on adding a book review page to this blog. I’ve had the pleasure of reading several really good books lately, many as selections from a couple of book clubs I belong to. Stay tuned for that.

That’s it for now. I’m so happy to see the sun shining bright in Colorado again, so I’m gonna go out to get some fresh air. Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Life, the Universe, and Everything.

Let’s try a quick recap of what’s been going on:

• School is going well. Homework and exams began rolling in at a regular pace a few weeks ago, so it feels real. I’m pretty confident about my ability to maintain high marks this semester. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the grant I was hoping for. That was disappointing, especially since I was told on several occasions that I had it. The most frustrating part was waiting—almost 2 months of being told it’s coming, to end with “Oops, sorry, no it’s not.”—which launched me into a long, pedantic dissertation on the unreliable state of education funding today. Don’t worry; I’ve spared this blog the gory details . If you’re interested, though, shoot me a note. I’d be happy to commiserate some more.
• New place: So yeah, since I didn’t get fully funded this year, I’m moving at the end of this month to less-expensive digs.

Hello world!

So cliche! But yes, hello world. My name is Kim and I come in peace…oh wait, wrong speech. Hold on a sec… Hello world. My name is Kim and I am new to the whole blog thing. It took me hours just to choose this page design, but now I think it’s cool. I’m a college student, so naturally I am in constant search of new and interesting distractions. Like the opera. Tomorrow, I’m going to the opera. Or playing the cello, which I’ve just begun taking lessons on. I also LOVE to dance and watch sci-fi movies. Well, not at the same time, of course. And don’t get me started on wine. I bottled a case of the homemade variety for the first time last weekend. Fantastic. Anyways, there are a lot of things to do and see from where I’m standing. So, here we go!