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so i’m taking this japanese civilization class and instead of reviewing this list of keywords from the classical and medieval periods, i’ve just taught myself how to write my full name in katakana. this is fun. i considered learning japanese when i first started college and abandoned it for portuguese. but once portuguese gets super solid, i just might try my tongue, once again.

Snatched:

“Beacon Press wants to publish a graphic adaptation of Butler’s novel Kindred. They’re currently “inviting proposals from cartoonists who appreciate Octavia Butler’s legacy, and reflect her commitment to social justice in their own work. Those interested in discussing a proposal should email the editor of the Graphic Books list, Allison Trzop, at atrzop@beacon.org.” The deadline is March 16!”

how exciting!

so i just finished Seven Pounds, featuring Will Smith and Rosario Dawson among others, and let me tell you, i definitely picked the wrong movie to watch before going to bed. it is heavy. i am a crying mess right now. wasn’t expecting that. despite my problems with the romanticized suicide, i do think it is worth seeing. just make sure you’re not alone or going straight to bed afterward. otherwise you’ll be up like me in the middle of night. i thought a movie would be a good treat for studying this evening, but now that i can’t sleep i just might have to hit the books again. ugh

just rediscovered this piece of wonderful in my itunes:

“Maiden Voyage/Everything In Its Right Place” by Robert Glasper

sorry, i’m too lazy to find a more interesting video. it was really just the sound i was after anyway.

another reason why i have a crush on rosario dawson.

i absolutely hate clothes shopping. i don’t like the mall. i don’t like spending money. i don’t like trying things on. i don’t like having the same clothes as a million other people. the list goes on. but i’m starting to get a feeling that i need to upgrade myself. i don’t know how much longer my everyday look: skinny pants, v-neck tee and chucks are gonna cut it. i need to put the spice back in my wardrobe. maybe this is just my winter blues. maybe i just need some new accent pieces. maybe i’ll go shopping tomorrow. anything to not get started on the weekend workload. ugh.

dang, i’ve got saudades like a mofo. good thing i’m going back to brazil next thursday! whew, i can’t wait. just gotta get through two mid-terms, an essay, and a scholarship application. oh, sweet motivation.

“Wherever the bird with no feet flew, she found trees with no limbs.”

–Audre Lorde in Zami, a New Spelling of My Name

last night i took a 10pm chinatown bus with jj. we were just minutes away from entering new york city, on the very end of the pulaski skyway, when the bus came to a slow stop. the sky was full of smoke and orange light. a few yards ahead, in the lane beside us, there was car and it was in flames. i have never seen anything like it. we waited behind a firetruck til the fire and smoke cleared and just the shell of the car was left. and then we went back on our way. i still haven’t been able to find what happened– if the driver escaped or not or what caused the fire. it troubles me know that someone could have died there.

this morning i got an e-mail from the director of a summer research program in cape verde. i contacted him two years ago about an idea that i had. he answered me a few days later, but then i kinda flaked out and got discouraged by the $3000+ plane ticket and low possibilities of a full scholarship. i dropped the ball on that travel opportunity, but i guess i made up for it by doing my thesis in brazil. anyway, since i already have other options for what i’ll be doing this summer, cape verde will have to wait a little while longer. today’s note, though, reminded me that despite how it feels sometimes, i’m not alone in my pursuits. that there are people who may be thinking of me when i least expect it.

also, i realized after last night’s conversation with jj, that i need to get even further on my grind, break out of the laziness/timidity and get my work out there…

good day