it is martin luther king day, and i promised to myself that i would not write the annual rant. the same rant applies this year as in years past, but if you're interested, you may simply read my january archives.

i did just finish some time at a seminar and it was extremely enjoyable and challenging. dr. massey spoke on the many matters in a humble yet direct manner, with wisdom. they were things, not just dealing with racism but in being a christian, and a courageous christian, that the entire campus so desperately needs to hear. i wish there would have been more people there. as an aside, he boldly said that christians voted for the wrong man this fall, because we were more "conservative" than we were "christian" and we lacked courage. i thought that was very gutsy, and coming from him it was very hard to dismiss.

on friday night we went to fazolis and they happened to be having a fundraiser for one of marion's kid's club things. it was great. there were cute little inner-city kids taking our trash and serving us all you can eat spaghetti. they sang every once in a while, too, and when they started to sing "lean on me" i started right in with them. that got our table singing and clapping which got most of the restaurant singing and clapping along. it was beautiful. how many times does this happen in a restaurant? the people walking in at that point must have been a bit surprised.

i watched coffee and cigarettes on saturday morning and i'm not exactly sure why, but i loved it. it was more a tribute to coffee and cigarettes than anything, i think, and since i dont smoke, im sure i cant fully appreciate it. but it captured the awkwardness of conversation that is the story of my life. highlights were iggy pop and tom waits, of course billy murray and members of the wu-tang clan, and cate blanchett. if i get around to making a top-10 of 2004 list, i think it will make an appearance.

i must go and get some real work done. the wind chill is extremely low and it stings the ears and the nose. i am anxiously anxiously awaiting a flight home on friday morning and over a week off. it's going to be great.

dr. massey was talking about being interested in other people and it made me want to schedule a coffee date for every night of next semester to get to really know people and learn from them. i doubt it will happen but i would like it to so if you are reading this and are interested in a coffee date, let me know. maybe we could throw some cigarettes in with the coffee. just kidding, mom.