The Return of the Student

I'm back! From whence, I know not. All I know is that I feel as though I have not had my head on straight for a few weeks. Possibly longer.
We've been reading so much philosophy lately! I find it interesting, but 'tis so new to me that I have trouble interacting with it. Now we're on Hume, after reading Descartes, Hobbes and Locke. Ahhhh! If I had a week for each reading, I would have a better time of it. As it is, we have two or three days for each. So, Ahhhh! I'm learning, though, to be a better student. That's why I haven't really surfaced online for two weeks.
We had our Halloween party on Friday night--great fun!!! We had lots of people from Hogwarts join us (apparently people do things in themes around here), as well as the Mad Hatter, a Muslim Angel (it actually worked okay!), and numerous other fun things. I procured a pure wool, made-in-Scotland kilt for seven bucks at Value Village, and made my appearance as a Highland dancer. We danced a lot: there was general move-however-you-want-to-throbbing-techno-music kind of dancing; some of our really cool people did swing; and all of us joined in to do the Virginia Reel, as well as another group dance. The latter was the highlight of the night, and I think quite a few of us were wishing for more assemblies such as that.
Some changes have taken place, as of yesterday: I have gone from my little room, to a larger room plus a roommate! Without divulging any private information, of which none belongs to myself, here's the scoop: my friend had a roommate in the women's house, they needed a different situation, la-di-da, I get asked to move in with my friend, la-di-da, we finally rectify the situation by turning the gorgeous Room One of the main house into a dwelling for my friend and I, and her former roomie gets my room. We have now spent one night thus, and are praising God for how wonderfully He has orchestrated this! I am so assured of His hand. And get this: my new room even has a fireplace! We're prohibited from lighting it, but ambience is really the key. One closet, however, does not unlock (they are, for some reason, deadbolted). We had to resort to crime, and have two of the senior guys attempt to pick the lock. Even they in their expertise could do nothing. Still, our house manager was teasing us, saying that we had the watchtower room (it's located between the men's hall, and the women's), and could spy on everybody. I sincerely hope so.

"The world was all before them, where to choose their place of rest, and Providence their guide; then hand in hand, with wandr'ing steps and slow, through Eden made their solitary way." ~Milton, Paradise Lost

Pleasant moments

The bells are chiming the hour again! They raise any situation beyond the ho-hum. Here in the airy Loft, the topmost level of the building, I am surrounded by shelves of books, plants, all manner of end-tables, and a bright window. Add the bells, and I think I have successfully escaped school life! Except, of course, that I'm doing homework.
Last night I baked cookies for the first time since I got here. I never realized how much I would miss doing it all the time, as I did in summer. It was a great way unwind, and they disappeared swiftly, leaving only mere crumbs to testify that they ever existed. So it is with all food around here, but especially sweets. On Monday night I witnessed a whole chocolate cake, complete and gorgeous at 10 pm, transform into a single sliver by 5:30 the next morning! Lots of growing boys around here. And girls, for that matter! Honestly, there's nothing like it.
Anyways, I just had to share the moments of peace that God has brought me recently! He knows exactly what we need.
Adieu.

Back to the ol' blog! Do expect, dear readers, a weekly report for now. But I think I've said that already. Now to the real stuff.
To me, October is the most gorgeous month of all. Furthermore, I don't think I've experienced a more glorious fall, looking out at the changing foliage through these old windows here at the house. This is a most beautiful city in falltime! Yesterday I was compelled to buy milk at the store, and it was so lovely to walk in the crisp, late afternoon, with a glass bottle of milk on my arm, as the city bells chimed the hour. I think the world was near perfection, if for a brief matter of minutes! Later at night, my friend and I ventured out to attend an Irish dance at a local church. Apparently the information was outdated, for we stumbled upon a "feed the homeless"/bum meeting instead; it was a nice night walk, anyways!
We got to experience October in another way today, during our House Work Day. The Lord gave us excellent weather (overcast, crisp, and dry) for our tasks, and I was delighted to have the job of working outside in the garden! Part of this included cutting back the mint plants, the trimmings of which I was allowed to keep. As a result, I have about six very large bunches of mint hanging delectably from my walls, ceiling, and closet doors, in preparation for cold season (I swear by mint tea for a sore throat!). Today I also did a lot of digging, so we'll see how my body fares in the morning.
Study-wise, I am getting settled, but there's always so much to do! I have a ton to cram into the next two days. So far, I think my favorite classes are Greek and Micro (yes, I'm loving all the excavating through Aristotle!). I find this strange, since it's Western Civ. that's the most literature/history intensive, and the class that I assumed would be my favorite. Well then! I guess I'm captured by the future opportunity that I will have to translate the New Testament for myself. I find that extremely compelling. Already the sophomores are using their Greek in their Micro class on John! Exciting! And we not so lowly freshman are now constructing simple sentences, which is thrilling.
Well, study beckons. Most of my fellow learners have either gone out to study, or are holed up in their rooms doing the same. We do that a lot around here; c'est la vie!
"Let us not say 'farewell', but as the French have it, 'au revoir'!"
Yours, etc.