Finals and colds

November 30, 2009 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

It's that time of the semester again. Time to sit on the couch with a pile of handkerchiefs, an endless supply of throw blankets and black tea, and the impending doom of paper deadlines. We didn't manage to get our tree today. I didn't even manage to get out of my pajamas. Maybe we'll get it next week (unfortunately, I have to get out of my pajamas before then). 

It's beginning to look a lot like...

November 28, 2009 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

For whatever reason, I'm really excited about the Christmas season- the greenery, the sparkly lights, wrapping all those presents. Yesterday I made evergreen bouquets and garlands for the house, and tomorrow we're going to get a tree. Greg is trying to keep the Thanksgiving spirit alive by playing our Arlo Guthrie album on repeat, but I sneak the All-Christmas station in the car. The spirit will overcome him soon.

The Five E's of Fair Process Leadership are a joke.

November 23, 2009 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Today was my last real day of leadership and organizational behavior, a management class I’m required to take for my public policy degree. I know that I am almost entirely alone here, but a discipline whose insights must alliterate seems a bit weak to me. For example, the five principles of fair process management include engagement, exploration, explanation, expectation, and evaluation. Transparency had to be dropped from the model- if it really mattered, it would start with an E.

During class discussion, I occasionally mention that the leaders we read about may have increased profitability because they fired all skilled labor in the organization, and am generally dismissed. One of my quieter friends in the class says that she could vomit on a case study analysis and get an A, whereas the TA seems to mark me down for not mentioning unpublished articles extending a particular theory. I should have known the cards were stacked against me when the TA presented a retaliatory presentation to my presentation on the financial crisis in another course.

But what do they expect when they force students concentrating in poverty alleviation to take a class valorizing big corporations at a time when income inequality is as high as it was in 1933? Applause? 

Thanksgiving comes in threes this year.

November 21, 2009 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Greg and I will have two turkeys, a lasagna, and possibly lamb with every relative in a three state radius this Thanksgiving. All of my final presentations will be over, so the holiday should be a little more relaxing than last year, where I locked myself in his eleven-year old cousin's room with the 1994 Crime Bill. 

This semester's coursework is easier than the last two semesters, but the commute is more challenging. I've never had a reason to balance life and school- at Smith, there was someone else to make dinner and clean the bathroom, so I could nerd out all I wanted. Last year, eating cereal three times a day didn't affect anyone else. Now that I live in a tiny cooperative of two, someone knows when I don't take my vitamins. I think I've learned to be a worse student and a better human. 

My dear friend Carly and I saw New Moon yesterday. Despite the flippant and snotty review by the NYT (who are as tortured as ever by the ernest abstinence-only morality lesson), it was totally delightful. Those who are too old to remember the wonderful awkward tension of having a best guy friend are blind to the gem in this movie- love that doesn't manage to make it to third base or out of high school. And who doesn't have a few secret true love best friends tucked away in their teenage heart?

After a short battle with spinal cancer, Greg...

November 14, 2009 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

After a short battle with spinal cancer, Greg's grandmother passed away last night. Her warmth, intelligence, and authenticity made Caswell family gatherings a pleasure- more than most girlfriends can ask for. We're all feeling her absence. Greg and I are trying to take it easy, although finals are sneaking up about as subtly as an rhino in stilettos.

Mom sent a midterms care package, which is wo...

November 14, 2009 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Mom sent a midterms care package, which is wonderful! I just made homemade chai tea with the cloves, cardamon, and vanilla she sent. My vintage jewelry collection also doubled, which will significantly update my usual green/brown/red sweater/scarf/chino assemblages.

This week's game night categories:

November 13, 2009 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

Cubist Panda

Expressionist Wizard

Art deco Vampires

Graffiti Ballerina

Minimalist Girlfriend

Realist Swine Flu

Surrealist Sailboat

Abstract ice cream

Anime pirates

Happy Birthday, Seraph!

November 10, 2009 by Sadie in Sadie & Greg

I got to talk to Seraph last night, and it sounds like she has a relaxing birthday planned. I plan to talk about all her living wage rabble rousing in my Wealth and Poverty class today! Keep on keepin' on, sister.