Divorced Parent Circus: Three rings? Only three? Amateur.

Where did all these people come from?  

Divorced Parents Circus: Preamble

So, it's starting. We also have word that Xolo's aunt will be coming too. Why? I don't know.

I am not big on huge chaotic family gatherings. I'm not the girl who was planning her wedding from when she was 6. Trust me on that one.

I'd sort of just like to hide under my desk until it's over. But, unfortunately, there are so many books and papers still under my desk (leftover from the days of dissertation demon possession and similar) that I won't fit.

Sigh.  

From the Subway Station This Time

A very old priest, tottering along in his Boston Red Sox cap. I bet he's been waiting (and praying) for a long time...  

Another Subway Story

I was riding the Boston subway today, and at one stop, a fashionably dressed Asian man, probably in his late 20's, entered the train. He walked toward a seat, then abruptly stopped, and went to another seat almost directly across from me, where he sat down with a sudden movement. It immediately became apparent that this man likely had Tourette's syndrome. With some frequency, he began yelling out words: "yes" "um", periodically kicking and jerking his legs and feet, and sometimes making a barking-like sound. He was very loud, and many people on the train turned to look in bewilderment. Other people just ignored him or seemed not notice in the first place.

As the ride went on, he did it a little bit less, but there were still periodic exclamations and kicks. Interestingly, he sat with his arms folded, his upper body motionless throughout.

There was a group of teenage girls farther down in the train, and when he would do something, they would giggle and stare. A few stops later, the group got off, and I noticed they were all somewhat chubby yet wearing very low-slung pants and midriff-bulge-bearing shirts. Now they're the ones who should be embarrassed, I thought.

Because the whole time, except for when I got startled by an abrupt yell (I startle very easily), I was thinking how incredibly impressed I was with this guy for going about his day and life even though so many people were staring and laughing at him. He rode the subway just like anyone else.

We got off at the same stop, Harvard Square, and walking up the stairs I could hear him behind me making sounds and stumbling; I guess the leg kicks also happened when he was walking. We both exited the station, but he walked off in a different direction. I heard his barks in the distance, getting fainter and fainter as I went to class...

Random read of the day: The Emergence of Social Inequality among Robots. From Cabinet Magazine: A wealth of random reads.

Random thought of the day: Oh, new blogger isn't all that bad, now is it? Seems pretty much the same when you get down to it...
 

The Divorced Parent Circus: Preview

Graduation is soon. Who will be there?:

-- My mother and stepfather
-- My father and stepmother
-- Xolo's mother and stepfather
-- Xolo's father and stepmother
-- and his sister

Keep in mind that my parents don't get along, and Xolo's mother is probably fantasizing about injuring his stepmother in some way.

Wheee!

Art Exhibit I Saw Yesterday in Boston that was Very Interesting [of the Week]: OCD Exhibition. See in particular bubble wrap art, which was unique.

Vacation Mentioned in Newspaper that Looks Like Fun [of the Day]: Hay book festival in Wales. Anyone up for a trip to Wales?  

Farewell Campus

It was a beautiful day Saturday, and some relatives were in town, so we all walked around the University campus. I realized that I won't be here for much longer. Though it can be quite desloate in the winter, it is quite impressive in the spring and summer. See my photo blog for pictures!

Then we went to the RISD alumni art sale, where I got this striking little guy. See more by this artist here.

Also: 148 Things (not) to do or say at or for your thesis defense. Whoops!. List by this guy. Found randomly while searching for something else.