Musings from the Library

I'm in the absolutely gorgeous reading room of the library where I work, and I don't have much to do. So, I'll muse.

I'm beginning to understand why people put so much effort into their homes. The small twinge of satisfaction I've had from cleaning and improving my home has made a huge difference in my experience of my house. It has gone from being a house to a home. I'm also feeling more clarified mentally. The more I can find things easily, the less frantic I feel as I go about my day. There are many things I have yet to do on the house--MANY--but geting even a few of them done makes a big difference. I am considering painting the counters instead of replacing them. They're in good shape as counters go, but they're ugly. I'm also thinking that an eventual project will be to build a mantle for our fireplace.

I think, perhaps, that the reason I trust God so much is I realize I can't do much better. I don't trust in science and I don't trust in medicine; those are falliable because they're run by humans. The only being I really trust is God, and I firmly believe God is active in our lives and wants us to be joyful. I have been down the paths of desolation, but I have come through those periods more grateful than before. I know my time at Harvard has been useful in some way--if only to make me happier once I have left.

I think our obsession with thinness has something to do with our cultural acceptance of pornography. Victoria's Secret commercials show gyrating supermodels in lingerie during our favorite shows. Fascination with the female body--and a growing fascination with the male body--has come to dominate our media and thus our homes. Is there any way to unplug from our sex-saturated culture while still remaining part of our society? Do we have to become Amish to divorce socially-mandated lust from our lives?

Why do we listen to celebrities' political opinions? Life is a tale told by an idiot--and they're the idiots telling the tales.

I had better begin researching my next paper.