A Void

I'm still loving things I am taught. Daily, I am taught. How fantastic.

Monday in my first class, my prof told us about an author. His fourth work is "La Disparition," and its translation is "A Void." A stunning fact about this book is that in his final copy, this author's writing did not contain his country's most common linguistic sign.

The letter "e."

Okay, so I wrote the above paragraph without using the letter "e," and that was the most difficult thing I've yet attempted on this blog. Georges Perec, French author of "La Disparition," wrote a 300-page novel without using the most common letter in the French language, the letter "e." This novel has now been translated by 8 different authors, and each translation has followed this same lipogrammatic constraint in each respective language. The English version does not contain the letter E. The Spanish version does not contain the letter "A," which is the most common letter in its language.

I think language is one of the most incredible art forms we experience. (See Rusco for more discussion on art forms, however). I do not begin to understand or be familiar with all the intricacies of language, but this struck me as a beautiful example of the creativity--the same creativity that is found in art and literature--being present in language. The author challenging himself to work outside the normal bounds of linguistics: Ahh.

I've been thinking lately about things I want. If I made a list this moment of the things I would probably purchase today if I had unlimited cash, it would include all of the following (and probably some other things):
An iPhone
An iPod Touch
Some other brand of Phone with unrestrained internet access
A new Macbook
A new guitar
Guitar effects Pedals
A grand piano
A Flat Screen TV

I would venture to say that I do not need any of these things. I currently possess machines that accomplish all of the tasks these additional items would be used for. I rarely even watch Television. In fact, about 95% of me is sure that this desire for a flat-screen would exclusively be to feed my college football addiction and is not related to regular scheduled television whatsoever. But still, anytime any of these things are mentioned, or I look at the scuffed surface of my two-year old Macbook, or I send a text message in class on my loud-buttoned cell phone, or I am too lazy to haul said Macbook around campus in my bag in order to have wireless internet at my fingertips, my mind lusts after these oh-so-useful items.

Now, lately, I have been slightly sickened by my own consumerism mentality. Also, I have been trying to figure out at what point the Biblical concept of "covetousness" begins, and the effectiveness of American marketing schemes ends. When society says "Buy, Buy, Buy!" and I want immediately to go and buy, is that me just listening to the stimuli that have been strategically placed in my everyday interactions, or am I beginning to be too much "in the world?" I do not want to make this a question of uber-conservativism or me being ruled by my own legalism, this is just something lately I've been fascinated by.

Let me just say, I love the "I like" Facebook feature. There is something so perceptive of American culture for creators of a website to realize that people were searching for the ability to spend one click to acknowledge having spent at least 2 hours viewing photos, reading notes, browsing their friends' status updates, and generally just wasting time, without even having to spend 15-20 seconds typing a single sentence. Now that, my friends, is the American Dream.

No, but really, I LOVE the "I like" thing. In fact, I love it so much, I really wish we could start applying it to real life. For instance, when various organizations have their booth set up on the south oval, I really wish I could not take their flyer, but could simply give them the unambiguous "Thumbs-Up" to acknowledge that I do see what they are doing, and I "Like This."

This morning, I had a terribly uncomfortable experience which made me really wish the Real-Life "Like" feature had already taken off. About a month ago, my friend Corey asked if I would mind doing some music for an event her organization was putting on. "Sure!" I had said at the time, thankful for any opportunity offered to me. The event was being put on by ASAA, which is "Advocates for Sexual Assault Awareness." They were going to have resources available for learning about the dangers of Sexual Assault, and for victims of Sexual Assault to gain information if needed. A legitimate cause, I would say. They wanted to have live music throughout the event to draw people's attention and make people feel comfortable. The event was to be held in the Crossroads Lounge.

Let's discuss this for a moment.

Crossroads Lounge is a fairly open space just adjacent to Crossroads Restaurant in the Student Union, for those of you who are unfamiliar. There are seats facing two directions, and large big screen TVs on either end which can generally be found to be tuned in to CNN and ESPN, respectively.

People in Crossroads Lounge are not interested in listening to music.

They are also not interested in Sexual Assault Awareness.

They are there to eat their burger and curly fries and check MLB stats.

This is awkward.

In addition to this, when I had said yes to Corey, she let me know she was having several people play, etc. When she messaged me this week with the schedule for the morning, she said "Yeah, Katie, if you could play from 10-1130 that would be great."

An hour and a half is a long fancy time.

So, around 1015, I wander awkwardly up to where the microphones are set up. This, by the way, is DIRECTLY to the left of the big screen tuned in to ESPN.

This is awkward.

I uncomfortably mumble something about being there as part of "Think Teal" day, and to check out the booths in the back, and then start, voice shaking, into the first song.

SO awkward.

I would venture to say that this was one of the most extended uncomfortable experiences I have faced. There are several reasons for this.

1) I am used to playing for people who are there to listen to music. I am not used to being in competition with the sports channel in a lounge at a school like OU.

2) I am used to playing for people I know. I had a maximum of 2 friends present at any time during the performance. This is not a dish on my friends, because I did not advertise this because it was not going to be the performance of the year, but there is definitely something to be said for having friendly faces in the crowd.

3) I was getting little to no feedback of any kind, and the feedback I was getting was indiscernible at best. The first several songs I played received no applause whatsoever, I think because people were still fairly confused about what was going on. The songs following received sporadic applause. This is confusing as an artist and really makes you want to crawl away and die (I resisted this urge).

This is where the "Like" feature of real life would have been SO handy. For instance, there were many people who were walking by, looking in, and continuing to walk. There were also some people who sat and listened for awhile, and then got up and left. Maybe they had class, but there remained a large possibility in my mind that they think I suck. There was absolutely no way to tell the difference between these two categories of audience members.

On occasion, I would get a smile from a person walking by. Generally, the smile is considered a sign of acknowledgment and general pleasant feeling, but how was I to know whether this was a look of pity or obligatory encouragement like Paula smiles at the auditioners who absolutely fail so miserably but are cute while they do it? (American Idol reference, yes, I know, I am ashamed.)

So, it was in these not-so-few moments of excruciating discomfort that I wished so desperately that the "Like" feature existed in real life, simply so I could have some idea of what the people walking by were thinking. It would have been fine for them to keep walking, if I could only have had acknowledgment from them that I am not a musical failure.

So, something to think about. Next time you see someone playing music in the Union foodcourt, give them the face-book coined version of the thumbs-up and continue with your day.

Maybe even a real-life Like-Attack is in order?

Something to Tantalize your Eyes, Ears, AND Taste Buds

Guys, let's DO THIS


I cannot express how happy this discovery makes me.

Sometimes Interesting Things Happen to Me

I teach piano lessons. 

I have 2 students.

Usually I get paid for lessons on the first Wednesday of the month.

I went to the William Fitzsimmons concert last Tuesday.

I usually never work at the dorms on Wednesday nights.

(I know I promised this would be interesting. Just Wait.)

How are these things connected? 

Well, it just so happens that all of these facts had to be present for me to have the experience I had last evening. If one of them was missing, the circumstances would have fallen apart, and these happenings would have never taken place. 

Isn't that interesting?

So the story goes that one of my families I give piano lessons to had forgotten to pay me for April lessons until yesterday. I had stuck the check in my back pocket because I am sometimes a little airheaded and it seemed like a logical/safe idea at the time. However, because this was a silly idea in the first place, my pocket and the check conspired to spite me and at some point between RUF and my home, the check slipped out. 

Now, at the time I realized this, it was around 11:45pm. The logical thing would have been to run to Dale at that point and search for it. 

But that's where the second circumstance came into play. 

Normally, I have duty on Monday nights, and some weekend night. But last week, Jena wanted to sit my Monday night duty so that I could sit her Tuesday. Normally this would be fine, but I was going to Tulsa for the William Fitzsimmons concert, and knew I would not be back in time to work. So Jena asked Nikky (the Wednesday night sitter) if she would join in our multi-switch. So Jena sat Monday, Nikky sat Tuesday, and I was to sit Nikky's Wednesday.

Unbeknownst to me, Nikky had also switched with Thursday girl (Vanessa) last week, and Thursday night girl was planning to sit Nikky's Wednesday. So when I arrived Wednesday of last week planning to sit, after much explaining, we realized Nikky's duty that night was double-booked, so I agreed to pay back my shift this week. 

So, at 11:45pm, when I realized the check was missing, I had to be at work 5 minutes from then. Obviously, there was no time to go to Dale.

But this one check is a significant portion of my monthly income, and I was not ready to let it go so easily. (Especially considering I registered for Summer Conference this week and bought U2 tickets. Ouch, bank account hit.)

So when 5am rolled around, I walked through the silent night to the parking lot where Jena's car was parked. 

5am is an eery time of day. 

It's like this strange not quite night but not yet morning kind of time. All your senses are heightened. Every CSI episode you've ever watched comes flashing back in your mind as you expect at any moment to be grabbed from behind or for someone to emerge from the shadows. 

I drove the half mile to the empty Dale Hall parking lot and scanned the lot from my car to see if I spotted a check on the ground. Not.

I walked towards the West Doors and pulled. Locked. Blast. 

I looked to the North towards the parking lot, and noticed a figure coming slowly through the parking lot towards me.

Also at 5am, every figure is suspicious and probably has intention to kill you. This is a strange feeling.

Unfortunately for the sake of this story, the figure was not a serial murderer. But apparently OU has people who drive cart-pulling adult size tricycles that deliver the newspapers in the mornings. How did I not know this? (Anna, I think I've found a job for you.) 

For some reason, wandering around campus in your sweatpants looking lost and peering in doors of buildings at 5am does not draw any attention. This was strange to me. Tricycle-driving newspaper man didn't even acknowledge me, but simply proceeded to deliver his newspapers. My 5am mind thought, "maybe Newspaper Man thinks I am a ghost. I wonder if he sees many ghosts mornings he is working."

Just as I was about to give up, after tricycle man drove away into the night, I saw a figure unlocking the west doors. He also did not acknowledge me. So I wandered into Dale, past some staring janitorial staff workers (they did seem to notice me, but didn't pay me much attention, so I'm sticking with my ghost theory) and scoured the RUF classroom at Dale. 

Nothing.

Dejected, I walked back to my car and came home. 

Someone had taken my parking spot.

Yes, that's right. You'd think that leaving for 10 or 15 minutes at 5 in the morning would not jeopardize your parking spot, and that it would be awaiting your return when you arrived back.

But, no. You'd be wrong. 

The moral of this story is:

Sometimes interesting things happen to me, but only when a series of uninteresting things combines to present strange opportunities I would never have experienced otherwise.

This morning I had an email in my inbox. Someone found my check outside of Dale.

 

 

J'ai lu, Mars 2009

Can you believe it's April already? The Oklahoma weather has been lately trying to deceive us into thinking it's December still, but apparently we're still taking the word of our calendars and we find ourselves thrust headlong into spring. I've loved seeing the campus blossom into the new season as flowers of beautiful kinds and colors (have you seen the tulips?) have been popping up in every direction. Oh, regeneration and renewal. Sure is refreshing to see, huh?

So here are books for March. I've pretty much decided January was a fluke and I'm just not going to finish five books a month. So, four it is. This month was a good one. I branched out of standard Reformed literature (twice...which is a start...) and I learned a lot. I think it's a shame for people to cut themselves off from the ideas of other believers because we don't line up with them perfectly doctrinally, and I think there is so much to be learned from others who are not looking at things from the same perspective as we are. I would love to discuss any of these ideas with you, as I am still wrestling with a lot of it.

Jesus Wants to Save Christians (Bell) – A church in the area recently added an addition to their building that cost $20 million. The newspaper ran a front page story that reported that one in five people in the city live in poverty. This book is about those two numbers. (How the American church is failing in all the ways we’ve seen the church fail before—including the same ways Israel failed). I love reading Rob Bell. (9)

Chosen By God (Sproul) – This is a very concise and effective presentation of Reformed Theology. Sproul addresses frequent questions and challenges of doctrines including the origin of sin, the nature of God, predestination, the implications of justice, grace, and mercy, and assurance of salvation. The 200 page read is well worth it, especially if you are just being introduced to these ideas for the first time. (8)

The Irresistible Revolution (Claiborne) – Shane Claiborne is a Jesus Lover trying to be the kind of Christian who actually looks like a follower of Christ. From the inner city of Philadelphia to the streets of Calcutta and the decimated villages of Iraq, Claiborne outlines his discontent with the American church and his vision and challenge to change the world through the power of the love that Christ both commands and demonstrates. I would suggest this to anyone looking to be inspired to action and anyone who is looking to see what the Gospel looks like when lived out literally. (9)
[Disclaimer: I don’t know that I agree with all of Claiborne’s theology (in fact, I know that I do not), but his call to the church to be more literal and less figurative is, if nothing else, something to get your mind and heart thinking about what Gospel Christianity looks like—and maybe it doesn’t look like the American Dream].

the enemy within (Lundgaard) – An in depth study into sin, what it looks like, how it works, how it affects us, and ten easy steps of how to stop sinning altogether. Just kidding. Lundgaard does a great job of examining sin and the role it plays in our lives and how to rely on Christ for grace to help defeat the power of sin in your life. Good study notes and questions. (7)




This month I've been discovering new music to love. Last month I liked Over the Rhine, and this month they still take the top spot. I love I want you to be my love and Spark a lot. Drunkard's Prayer is great too. If I could be a band, it would sound a lot like them sometimes.
I discovered Joshua James through my dear Lydia (who, by the way, usually introduces me to most of the good music I ever listen to...between her and Haden, I am set) this month, and there's something about him that I like and have enjoyed listening to. I really like Crash this Train.
Jena introduced me to the music of a friend of her's from Camp Wabanna (where several of our friends have worked summers) named Val Nebbia. She and the Nebbia band are flat out awesome. This has grown on me with every listen. She's unique and radiates with talent. I love it.The things that kept me entertained and loving life over Spring Break (and also things I can check off my to-do list from last month) :
Pie Baking-- (This one is peach. It was yum.)
Painting. Anna and I sat on the back porch one afternoon and watched Into the Wild
and painted. I didn't bring my paints home from school, and my mother's collection has been slowly dwindling over the years...so we ended up a little bit lacking in color choices. I will likely paint over these and start again.
Songwriting/Recording. I set my goal to write 3 new songs over the break. I accomplished about 2 1/2. I'll continue to work. One is up on Myspace, if you haven't listened yet you should give it a listen and let me know what you think. I'm still testing the waters with it.
Also on my list from last month:
Summer Conference Registering (Just waiting for my ChickFilA check to come in). You should register too.
Camping (For now I am counting the Thursday night living room fort extravaganza as the closest I will likely come to camping at least for the time being. But I am still checking it off my list.)

Currently obsessed with: Vitamin C (and hence, Jamba Juice) and foreign films (or films depicting foreign countries). I am recently getting over my short-lived March Madness obsession and definitely find it a poor substitute for college football.

Movies I saw worth watching: Into the Wild, La Vie en Rose, Slumdog Millionaire, Notting Hill, and Jerry McGuire.

I love this song. Thanks, A. It's playing on repeat.