the Dalaverse

SMCM was a good place to hear people talk this week. It was the annual Women's Studies Colloquium for a few days, and this year's theme was marriage. I only got to hear one presentation, but it was a good one -- Jim de Seve, who made "Tying the Knot," a documentary about the debate over marriage rights (they screened the film the night before, but I'd forgot all about it). He made a lot of salient points, and it was heartening to see all the students and faculty who packed the theater. I've added the movie to Netflix (for when I finally reactivate my account -- it won't let me change it back from four movies at a time to any other plan).

Tonight Vanessa and I went to hear Ron Powers, author of the recent in-depth biography Mark Twain: A Life. He's a pretty big name for us; he's also buddies with the college president and her husband. He started by complimenting our campus, which is the surest way to the SMCM resident's heart. Look at the river and you're ours for life. He was a very good speaker and shared some nice insight into both Twain's life and his own approach to writing it. Although he had that whistling-S thing -- is that technically a lisp? Anyway, he did sound exactly like the beaver in "Lady and the Tramp" at times. We went to the reception afterwards, where they had really excellent trays of food (starfruit! Chocolate-covered strawberries! Cream puffs! Petit fours! And perhaps most importantly, baked brie with almonds and orange bits). I got Mr. Powers to sign the program for my dad, and I plan to talk my mother into buying the book (Daddy loves Twain) and slip the autograph inside.

Incidentally, the subject line is my mother's official theme song.

I am deeply relieved to have all of my applications done. It took me the whole rest of the day to be able to close the browser windows (one per school, each with several different tabs). I wish I'd had it all done two or even one month ago -- I missed the scholarship deadline for Southampton, which hurts. But there's nothing I can do about not having done it now, except for try not to be such a fuck-up in future. Right now I just...have to consider a lot of things, at great length, in peace (the last directed to my parents, who initially make good points but then keep harping on them to the point where I want to do the opposite of whatever they say on general principle).