Chapter 3: I'm glad you were born

What a lovely week it's been. Maybe it's that the U.S. election craziness is over (and regardless of whether "my guy" won, I'm just glad to see the end of campaigning.) Maybe it's because the weather is a brisk yet warm, gentle Injun summer. Maybe because finally, after several misfires, I actually got a good mark on a paper this year. Maybe it's because of chalk.

When I was walking around the McMaster campus looking for Christobel's res the morning after Halloween, I walked by a whole bunch of chalk writing on the sidewalks near the entrance to the campus. At first it seemed like a 2-part slogan, but then I realized it was more likely two people having a (repetitive) argument, back and forth. The first read, "I'M GLAD YOUR MOTHER HAD A CHOICE." inevitably followed by the second, "I'M GLAD YOU WERE BORN." Aside from the obvious political nature of the sentiment - which I will get into later - I thought, what a nice thing to say. "I'm glad you were born." If I'm ever down (and this happens often, as you probably know,) I think that it what I would most like to hear. Everyone should have someone say that to them at some point. Make them feel special, like their existence is appreciated. "I'm glad you were born." How nice.

Now then. I said I thought at first these were two parts of the same sentiment. There's no doubt, from my saying that, I am indeed pro-choice. I never understand the hardline stance pro-lifers (or for the purposes of this conversation, anti-choicers,) take. I'll admit - I can't see myself as ever being in a situation where I would want a girl to get an abortion. Perhaps giving the child up for adoption or some similar option would be better. But that doesn't mean I don't think a girl should not be able to obtain one - a safe, legal one - if she so desires. After all, it's her motherfuckin' body, not my own. Whether it's an ethical procedure is the decision of the person who must undergo it. I happened to peruse an acquaintance's Facebook note, a survey where she was asked the hard-hitting question, "Are you pro-life or pro-choice?" She answered, "Pro-life, but it's your choice" not realizing that this in fact made her pro-choice. Being pro-choice, after all, does not mean you think everyone should always be getting abortions. That doesn't even make sense... and would probably be called "Pro-Death" (Which I have occasionally termed myself as a reaction to my fears of overpopulation.) What I'm saying is, like many issues, this is a complex issue that deals with many hypotheticals - the nature of the pregnancy - that cannot be simplified to yes or no. Just because you don't want something doesn't mean it's never useful to have.

But I guess I'm here talkin' politics again because my life remains uninteresting. I bought a day planner a couple days ago. I figure it's the least I can do to be responsible and tkae charge of my academic career. That first round of papers really caught me unprepared and now I'm taking note of when everything is needed by. Of course, this is just a reminder now that I have two papers due in a single week but we'll deal with that when the time comes.

I got back the last paper of the previous cycle. It was a history paper the subject of which I didn't even bother to check on until I started writing it the day before it was due. It was really stupid on my part (and contributed directly to the buying of this dayplanner.) At first, when writing it, I felt like I was totally in over my head but as I began to go through the preparations I got a better sense of what I needed to be writing and what to do, and by the time I was done with it I had a paper I felt I could be reasonable proud of. Looking back I probably could've reformatted it especially in the early parts but ultimately it was a very strong product. I got a 78%, or B+, which is the best mark on any assignment I've gotten thus far (although I'm getting my Sci-Fi midterm test back in a few hours and I think that might be even better.) So at least I'm on the right track. I'm going to devote a lot of attention to the next Shakespeare paper... really, that should be a trend for all of them, but baby steps, y'know?

On the weekend I was talking to my aunt about school. I mentioned the anecdote about the TA who took over for the class one lecture and how she'd been in University since starting in 1993, which freaked me out. I decided I'm just not an academic by nature... I'm the guy academics write about. I've gotta be. This can't be my world, you know? So I've got to get through these next few years and really start accomplishing things. She also advised I not take 5 courses per year... she said she tended to take only 4 and that she could manage her work better that way, and frankly I think that's a smart move.

I was also wondering what life would be like if I decided to become a substitute teacher someday. Probably not a full-time one, but like, if I was the guy who came in when the English or Math teacher was sick and made sure the kids behaved and didn't fuck around TOO much and told pointless anecdotes about my personal life nobody wanted to hear...

wait a minute... I think I AM a substitute teacher! Hey you back there, face front! You don't go until the bell rings!

I just got a call from HMV letting me know when the staff meeting is, so... good. I'm a bit worried about how this job is going to impact my school life but most likely I'll just work weekends, maybe thursdays, until the end of the semester, and it'll be just like regular times.

Who the hell knows.

Brrringgg. Class dismissed. Keep on rockin'
-Scott