It's Over! (ish)

I hope everyone's finals are going well; it's almost over! I have my two toughest finals Monday and Tuesday, then I go back home to Long Island. Here are some things that I'm looking forward to doing this summer:
-Getting back on a normal sleep schedule
-Eating home cooking
-Making different kinds of soup :d
-Doing some reading for pleasure (I'm thinking about finally investing time to read the Lord of the Rings)
-Write!! I wrote this short story last year which is sort of nothing on its own, but I now have an idea for a full story and context. I'm looking forward to putting that down in form.

What I will miss:
-Davison!!!!
-Laughter about random things that don't make sense
-Laughter about intelligent, witty things
-UPC runs
-RISK playing :D

Well, that's it for me. I wish you all luck on your finals, and a safe trip hope!

Enjoy the summer,
-Poseidon

P.S. Pick up a copy of Helicon (the literary magazine) in the library or other highly traveled locations!

As Time Goes By

I just came back from my last choir event of the year: a day long trip in NYC for a concert for Vassar alumni. The bus ride gave me some time to reflect upon my first year at Vassar.... and, in short, it's been quite a year. It's interesting to think about how different I feel about this place and its people now than I did a lot of last semester. I was having some trouble adjusting last semester because of some things going on at home; I didn't quite have the right frame of mind necessary while making the great shift to college life. However, I found that some friends came through, who made it all better; a lot of whom were in choir. I'm starting to *consciously* realize that I invest myself emotionally in choir. What I mean by this is that at the same time that I rely on the music to express emotion, I feel emotion because of the experience of expressing music among my fellow singers and friends.

As a result, I've realized that I'm sad that I won't be seeing some of these wonderful people until next fall, possibly longer for those who are graduating. I know I've made permanent friendships, though, because I feel like I've known some of my friends here for years. I find it strange that after only 8 months, I feel like I would be lost without some of these people.

I want to thank those who have made this year great, and who sustained my sanity when I needed it most; you'll be hearing from me in person. :)

Callooh! Callay!
-Poseidon

All Night Long (All Night)

I successfully completed my paper at the expense of not sleeping. It was worth it, though, because I do have some pride for it! In my last two classes I was a little drowsy, doing the embarrassing head drop, and jerk awake motion.... Several times while I was writing, I realized that I unconsciously written a word in French, or that I had been thinking about things in French. I guess the good thing about my all-nighter is that I've think I'm on my way to becoming fluent in French.

Get some sleep you, and good luck on final papers, etc.
-Poseidon

Dido: "i <3 u"; Aeneas: "ttyl"

I just got back from the Opera Workshop and Madrigals performance of Dido and Aeneas. In short, it was brilliant. Wonderfully sung and performed, there were a few laughs, many creative scenes, and the sad ending expected. You should definitely go see it; their last performance is tomorrow at 3 in the Skinner Recital Hall.

-Poseidon

House Cup Toss Up Episode II: Results of the Draw

After one delay, the Davison House Draw finally happened today. Poseidon and his friends drew into the house(s) that they wanted, and hopes that the other Davison refugees were satisfied with the results of the draw. If any of you are having serious issues in terms of not having drawn into the house of your room mate, for example, contact ResLife as soon as possible, because I'm sure they would be willing to try to accommodate a *reasonable* request.

Hope all turned out well!
-Poseidon

Spring Has Sprung

To piggy-back SPRiNKLES' post:

While walking to class today I was surprised and delighted to see the
tulips in Main Circle (and everywhere on campus, in fact) had bloomed!

Enjoy the flowers,
-Poseidon

My Two Cents

Since John Edwards backed out of the presidential race, I've been supporting Hilary Clinton. However, I don't bash Obama like so many Obama supporters do to Clinton. I like Obama as well, and I will vote for either of them come the November election. What I don't understand is how people can support Obama so vigorously, yet hate Clinton. To me, they seem to have very similar policies, the major difference being how they come across to the public.

It seems to me that Obama has tried to cater to the youth of the US. It seems like he has tried to appeal to us, and that he's certainly done his job considering his vast support. His slogan is "CHANGE" appeal to us, which makes sense as we generally have greater optimistic views on the future. I take issue with this slogan only in that it feels like he's just using it to get the youth vote, and that if he takes office he won't pull through. Charisma alone does not make a president.
Again, I'll vote for him if he gets the nomination, I just hope that those who support him do so because they actually think about what he offers aside from his charisma and slogan.

-Poseidon

Pennsylvania Primary Today!
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/22/in-pennsylvania-what-constitutes-a-win/index.html?hp

"Earth" Day

Isn't Earth Day supposed to be a day in respect of the earth, a symbol
of our commitment to keep it healthy? If so, why did today's Earth Day
events on the Quad leave it littered with trash? I'm a bit irked by
that....

-Poseidon

On Kindness

I ordered take out food from that new Italian place in Poughkeepsie that has been advertising a lot recently: Milani's. Okay, so I called in my order and the woman who answered was very pleasant. I gave her my order, and we hung up. About 50 minutes later, the delivery man showed up at Davison. Meanwhile I had been waiting in the entrance way, so I opened the door for him - a very instinctual thing to do -and he seemed genuinely appreciative. I then told him that I was the one who ordered. He said "Ah, okay, well..." and proceeded to tell me that he not only included an extra pizza (large) for us, but that he upgraded our two small pizzas to normal size. (Keep in mind we ordered more than just pizza).

Having had an exhausting week, during which I had been stressed into outer limits of sanity, I was struck by the kindness of this man, who I believed (from the way he was talking to me), that he was probably one of the owners or in the family of the owners. I was overwhelmed, perhaps more than I should have been, by this act that was completely superfluous yet so selflessly nice. This act reminded me that people can be generous, nice, caring even when it's not expected of them. It's so nice to think that there are other people who are nice just for the sake of being nice. It's refreshing, and it's fulfilling in a sense. I don't want come across as prideful, but I revel in doing things for others - my parents, friends, acquaintances, classmates, professors, whoever - just because I know it will make them happy.

It's nice to be on the receiving side of this relationship - to be the target of the good act - because it strengthens my own desire to continue to do the "good deed."

I hope you'll give and receive some kindness today,
-Poseidon

Bleck

I feel like I'm drowning in work. For the past few weeks I've noticed that I frequently run into the following problem: when organizing when to do work (before, between or after classes, choir rehearsal, lessons or meetings) I find that there isn't enough time.... I always hope for the best, that somehow I'll get done more work than expected, but it's always the other way around. I feel like I'm working so hard, that when I take breaks (infrequent though they may be) I feel guilty that I should still be working. I know it's partially my fault because I choose my own classes and activities, and I keep my standard of work high. I feel like if I don't push myself this way, I don't learn anything and begin to completely neglect a course altogether.

Ugh.... I just need to get through the next two weeks and all my major stuff will be done.

Good luck with your own stuff, everybody,
-Poseidon

The House "Cup" Toss-Up

All of the current Davison refugees who will be living in another house next year (not including people with suites) received their House Draw number yesterday afternoon. There are 83 people listed in the draw; the first thirty or so are rising seniors and juniors, and the remainder is rising sophomores. Also released yesterday by Rich Horowitz of Residential Life and Davison House Advisor Michael Penwell, was the "Fall 2008 House Vacancy List":

Cushing and Main are reported to have no vacancies; Strong has 8; Josselyn and Noyes have 10 apiece; Lathrop has 17; Jewett and Raymond have 19 apiece. The actual House Draw will occur this Friday, April 11th.

Residential Life is doing a great job at managing all of this, but there is no way to make the distribution of draw numbers fair. Though some of us may end up in a house that we do not want to be in, and perhaps displaced from friends I'm trying to be optimistic that the house draw will turn out well, and that everyone will go away with some sense of satisfaction of where (and with whom) they will be next year. If there's housing "drama" going on within your circle of friends -- as occasionally happens within mine -- just talk it out, and there's bound to be some resolution in a positive direction.

Good luck fellow Davisonites,

-Poseidon

The Little (Wet) Things

I've been working more or less nonstop since my return from break, and it was nice to have a release last night ... in the form of going insane in the rain with my main friends. (Yes, the "main" was only added for a 3rd rhyme). I was reading Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, when, appropriately, lightning illuminated the sky. One of my friends went outside to wait for the rain to hit our dorm, so when it actually started pouring I went to go check on her. It had been about a minute of rain, but she was already soaked at this point. I ran up to bring some friends down to watch, and it soon turned out that we were all outside dancing and having fun in the rain. It was a nice physical cleansing, of sorts, and a good emotion release. It was a break away from any usual relaxing activity, and one that involved nature.

We were outside for about 40 minutes. In that time I felt relaxed again, more sane - ironic though it may seem - and at peace.

I hope you can all find some wonderful (wet) things to relax with along with your friends as the semester progresses,
-Poseidon

Trogdor Strikes in the... Day?

Last night I decided to wake up early this morning so that I would have ample time to do some reading before class. I took a shower, got dressed, and headed to ACDC with my work. Okay, so nothing unusual about that. At approximately 8:30 am I arrive at said eating establishment and to what should my wondrous eyes should appear, why 2ninjas and a Trogdor be-suited man. I laugh to my self, but I decide it's too early to consider why there are ninjas and a cartoon dragon on campus. However, as I climb the steps of ACDC, I see from the corner of my eye that they're following me. I cautiously open the door and slip inside. I grab some yummy bacon and scrambled eggs, and go to pay. I start walking through the entry way to the salad bar when Trogdor smashes my tray from my hands, while simultaneously, one of the ninjas kick out my knees from behind and I hit the ground soon after my food. (If you're curious the other ninja must have been snickering, because there was no one else around). When I stand up a few moments later, the ninjas and Trogdor are gone. I look down and on my tray I see: "Traygor strike in the night."
-Poseidon

L.O.V.E.

This spring break was not at all what I expected it to be. To start off, I'd like to laugh at how funny it is that I subconsciously thought that a lot of my college friends would partake in that stereotypical "sPrinG brAke '08 lolzz!!1!" in Florida. It's hilarious that no one I know did that at all.

I expected to get some homework done, quietly celebrate my birthday, play lots of Brawl, and see my friends during the one day overlap of our breaks. (All but the first was actually accomplished). I can't say I completely enjoyed the break but I certainly had some surprising realizations.

Two of my friends who were home took me to lunch the first friday of break, and I realized how much they value my friendship through small actions and delicately but lovingly chosen words. Then when I met with my other friends I recognized that the fear that had grown inside me a year ago, that of losing my friends to college separation, was not realized. My closest friends are intact, I still love them, and they still love me. During the trip up to school I realized how much I had missed seeing my new friends, and upon returning from during felt their love.

Love you guys, old and new (Vassarites!)

-Poseidon

The Emotion of Music

This Tuesday and Wednesday I watched American Idol, after quite a long hiatus (as I last saw it in January). Brooke White's performance of "Let It Be" was beautiful, but perhaps not in the immediately obvious ways. When she started singing the song, I immediately commented that her note on "trouble" was out of pitch, and as the song progressed I noticed that the song was a bit musically sloppy in that she was a bit hoarse or off on a few notes. However what I realized soon after and understand now is that a heartfelt performance, one that does show these musical flaws and physical signs of emotion, is the best kind of performance. I downloaded the iTunes single of the song and it's very different. The voice is not emotionally strained as in the live performance, and it really makes a big difference. Sure, both have musical merits and if you go by "the books" the single is more perfected than the live. But that's just it: it shouldn't be perfect. The song should be imperfect, and in this way that emotion makes it so. We are human after all, and it's imperfection that's beautiful. I'll take my music with emotion, and its effects.



On similar note (forgive the pun), I saw Young Frankenstein, the musical, yesterday, and it was wonderful. It's all the terrific humor of the original film with witty music performed with emotion. :D
http://www.youngfrankensteinthemusical.com/

-Poseidon

A "Brawl" At Last

At 12:10 AM this very Sunday morning, I was waiting anxiously in line to purchase my copy of the long-awaited (2 years), twice-delayed SUPER SMASH BROS. BRAWL. The game is amazing. It has an insane amount of content and unlockable content ranging from secret characters, to secret battle stages, and other play modes. It was certainly well worth the wait. I'll be enjoying my time at home, for sure, until my friends return from school at which point we'll all play together and my story will be a great deal less lame. :P

Have an enjoyable and safe spring break,

-Poseidon

Changed Perspective

The tone of last semester was very different than the tone of this one. There was this atmosphere of stress and worry, and general anxiety about the future. But I feel so much more comfortable at Vassar than I did 4 months ago. The strange thing is, I think it had more to do with me than it did with the people or things around me. I've been doing some thinking......and..... I'm finally happy here.

Now to do laundry and work! Good luck on midterms,

-Poseidon

Brawling is Good For Mental Health

This weekend was amazing.
I spent most of my time at NonCon events; I played Super Smash Bros. Brawl, card games, Brawl, made chain mail, Brawl, and more Brawl. I'm a little obsessed.

Despite the excitement I don't really have much to say this quiet Sunday afternoon. I'm just in a really good mental place right now.

-Poseidon

On Sunday

I have always found Sunday to be the most stressful day of the week. It's the day when I must approach my list of wishful "to dos" and force myself to work. In spite of this, there is a balance that exists. Though there is much anxiety about finishing what "needs to bedone," (though there is often much conflict in my mind about what*actually* needs to be done), Sunday is a sort of middle ground. It's a passageway of sorts between two weeks of class where there exists hope for some kind of surprise that will come in the future. Sunday: a day of work, yet part of the weekend, it provides some kind of reassurance (ungrounded though it may be) that there's something good for the coming week. Here's wishing some of the good stuff will come your way... and mine,

I'm Poseidon, and I'll be blogging for Davison.

What once was clear moon,
Is now my reflection true:
Bury it in me.