Archive for October, 2007

Knee Surgery Update

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I've been cut, drugged, and virtually mugged. On a positive note, I've gotten some great sleep over the past few days.

So for those of you who may be out of the loop (which may be many), I had knee surgery on Thursday of this, my first reading week at MHGS. In retrospect, this may not have been the best decision as I did not consider that though I'd be down for a few days due to the surgery, I'd also be on thought-inhibiting drugs during all of those days. This is a convenient way to procrastinate on an important paper, but it is ever becoming an annoyance as the due date is Monday.

In any case, the surgery was an apparent success. I'll know more after a yet to be scheduled follow up appointment. Both knees were affected by meniscal tears, and the left knee carried a small cyst (see the white below) that bothered me. No more. All gone. Good riddance.

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I have been blessed by many people since going under the knife. Thanks to Catherine for keeping me company, preparing a few meals, and for worrying for me. Thanks to my parents for their parental concern and get well basket. And thanks to the guys in my house for helping out with so many odds and ends – from food to ice.

Click on either of these two photos to see the album of surgery pics. There are a few good ones of me in the operative get up getting my knees shaved. Good stuff!

2007
10/27
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Def Poetry

One of my professors introduced me to Def Poetry Jams several weeks ago. Many thought-provoking and moving poems from the show can be seen through YouTube. Here are a few:

2007
10/26
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Chernobyl: 21 Years Later

I found a link to this photo essay on Chernobyl a few months ago. It is absolutely moving.

2007
10/22
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Why Am I Awake?

I should be in bed, but I thought I'd accomplish one more thing that I've been meaning to do for a while. This week marked the end of my 7th week as a graduate student. It's seemed like so much longer than seven weeks. I've read more during this time than in any year of my undergrad, if not more. There's been a lot of good stuff to read … and then there's been Foucault. This short time has provided some of the most challenging moments of my life – and I say so without hyperbole. It's hard. If only it was the academic part that was the most challenging. Don't get me wrong, it's not undergrad work, but it still pales in comparison to the difficulty of deconstructing yourself – determining how you interact with people, think of yourself, think of others, and think of God. It is very challenging to look into your own heart looking for the brokenness and darkness … and to sit with it, hold it, and offer it to others around you. When you are laid bare before yourself and others, there is nothing behind which to hide. You see how little you love, how poor your faith is, and how you lack true hope. And you sit there humbled. But you're not alone – it would be a hell if this were not the case. These seven weeks have been but the start of a very painful, yet good, process.

I'm very much looking forward to this coming week – Reading Week. An undergrad fall break is replaced in grad school (at least this one) with a week to allow you to catch up on reading, work on term papers, and to read ahead (Lord willing) for the later half of the term. Into this whole mix I'm throwing a birthday party attendance, going to hear a top-notch theologian named Jürgen Moltmann speak, bilateral knee surgery (yep, both knees), going to hear Tony Campolo speak, and an apple picking adventure. Those are in order, so the attendance at the events after the knee surgery is questionable.

2007
10/20
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For All You “Map Havers” Out There …

2007
10/07
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