The Angsty End

There are times I feel bad for Hayden Christensen or Daniel Radcliffe
 
I mean, they are associated with the roles they play and many of them are angsty teenage boys
Think Star Wars Episodes 2 and 3. Think Life as a House. Think Harry Potter 4, 5, 6,  and 7.

Everyone gets a little angsty sometimes. Angst is an understanding of your own vulnerability. People facing great change have cause to be a little angsty occasionally.
Here at Headquarters angsty and quick changes in mood have characterized the past week or so. Graduation is so close, the weather is finally improving and both Sonic and Yoda have passed their senior projects! Yay!

When the future looks like a vast ocean,
your life seems to be a tiny boat
where your friends and family sail close by
weathering the great storms together
sometimes the others sail off
and the horizon is clear
can you handle the wind?
can you handle your boat
with all the freedom of the sea?

The Protocol

Here at Headquarters, we have been going through a rough time. In trying to deal with this, we have come up with simple step-wise protocols for helping both Sonic and Yoda with their emotion and energy releasing.

The Sonic Protocol

1. Ask questions: Usually this is for things like What's wrong?
2. Wait for the answer
3. Allow time for silence.
4. Wait for the answer
5. Ask more questions
6. Give her a hug.
7. Go back to step 1.

The Yoda Protocol

1. Initiate: ask the question. It could be: What’s wrong? How are you feeling? Where did you leave the hippo? How much sugar did you have?
2. Shut up.
3. Stay put.
4. Listen.
5. Wait – if you think she’s done, just wait.
6. If you think you can time a hug properly, do so.
7. Go to Step 2.

With 25 days to go, things are getting a little hectic here at Headquarters. If something seems off, just remember these simple steps and move along to being praised for your support!

Thank you!

You know you're close...

You know you're getting close when the project you've been working on all year, the project that haunts every senior that has passed through this campus, is finally turned in. Whether you're 100% satisfied with it or not, time is up!

That's right everyone, I have finished my comp. Although the oral defense still awaits me, my time with programmable hardware and encryption is coming to a close.

It'll be so nice to finally get to just relax and -- wait, what do you mean I have other class work?!

Sigh...

A Weekend To Report

The probability that this weekend is interesting enough to report upon is greater than 5/8.
Thus, a report is forthcoming.
The players: Yoda, Latro, Sonic, Captain Reynolds, Our Beloved Ewok Friend


Friday night saw the giving in of Yoda to the repeated suggestion of Latro to subscribe to Netflix's services. All weekend this has proven a distraction beyond measur - Oo! All 5 seasons of Psych!!


Yesterday Yoda and Captain Reynolds learned and now recommend carrying around a string tuner everywhere one goes. This may be required for public performances of bad local punk artists who do not understand that their guitars are out of tune. 


Today Our Beloved Ewok Friend came by for a hanging out and girl talk session which was much needed for all present. 


Also,


It was finally 72 degrees and sunny in the Mudville and there was much rejoicing!
 (Oo! Ah! Spe--cial! (Cherish the Earth!))


Yoda learned about isomorphisms while studying abstract algebra for her Mathematics degree. She studied isomorphisms in her math comp in the complex plane in order to change the functions of an underlying grid of M. C. Escher's Portrait Gallery into a straight grid. She also has now learned that the theologian Sallie McFague must be a mathematician because she is using isomorphisms to make religious language more relevant to 20th-21st century life.


34 days and counting :)


(P.S. 
Is the glass half full or half empty?
The glass is twice as big as it needs to be. )

Who are you today?

"That's not in my nature!"
Ha!
wait...
the songs ask if I remember
what I am fighting for
but it makes no difference
if I've forgotten
Who
I am fighting for

A constant struggle in time
with the fluidity of choice
who do I want to be today
or do I want others to dictate
the only true possession
I claim
me

Dagnabit! Hope!

I wrote a poem the other day

a love poem for my boyfriend

"aww cute"

I know.

It was about what happens 

when he shuts me out

"okayy... less cute"

Not exactly.

The point was that in such times

there is always hope

the sun comes out again

a love poem for myself I guess

"poor boy, I'm sure he wanted 

that poem for himself"

I'm sure.

My problem is

that I cannot end a poem without hope

its always there, always, always, always

I rush down to the deepest pit

into hard rock and wet slimy darkness

and some how I find light

one star peeking through, the slimmest crack

toward a way out, the flame within

Try as I might, its there!

Its haunting me

Hope.

It follows me in

Tells me to change

keeps me alive and never lets me go

never lets me lay down and pass out of sight

I can never just write

'and the darkness overcomes'

instead hope sneaks in

quieter than a mouse, it tiptoes in 

I never realize its there until - Wham!

'and the darkness overcomes - all but one light'

Dagnabit! hope again!

What a crying shame of a pessimist am I

I who cannot help but let hope come waltzing in

Can I hope for despair in a happy poem?

Alas, I can say, Winter is coming

but even winter has spring

The Cake is a Lie - Oh Wait, This Cake Isn't! (Yay!!)

We here at headquarters usually make up our own news.
However, today I have found something close to the heart that needs support in being real news:
CAKE!!
Gluten-free Cake, that is.

"Specifically, the world’s largest gluten-free cake."

(not this one)

And I quote:

"The Food and Drug Administration was supposed to develop standards as part of the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA). This law requires manufacturers to list the top eight allergens, which include wheat--but not gluten. Now three years later, we’re still waiting for FDA to move on a gluten standard.

This cake will be constructed with much fanfare in Washington, DC on May 4^th at the Embassy Suites Convention Center.

“We’re making a huge cake to spotlight the lack of standards for gluten,” says Jules Shepard, gluten-free author and baking expert who’s organizing the event with gluten-free triathlete and blogger John Forberger. “It’s time to pressure FDA to stop delaying and to take action!”

The event, called 1in133 (1 in 133 people in the United States have celiac disease but most are undiagnosed), will culminate with a VIP reception for federal lawmakers and concerned members and friends of the gluten-free community. More details to follow but in the meantime, mark your calendar—May 4^th –-and check out 1in133.org for more info and to sign the petition."

P.S. Thank you to the person who told me about this. I'll have to make a cake that day to support! :)