I'm not sure why.

Every time I click on New Post here on blogger lately, my mind goes completely blank. And nothing seems important enough to write about. Oh, wait! I just thought of something. Last night after meeting with JoAnna about my thesis (which is about 1/4th of the way done!!!!!) I drove up to the city and met my sister Becky at Cafe Con Amore Coffee Shop in St. Paul. I'd read that the local chapter of Amnesty International was having their bi-weekly meeting there, so we attended. They were an interesting bunch to say the least - very nice people (one real cutie too named Margaret-she kept Beck and me in the loop). This group has adopted two prisoners of conscience from Algeria who've been arrested, had their trial dates postponed, and now have simply disappeared. They're working to get these prisoners a fair trial as well as fair treatment in the prison that they're in. We were supposed to have the coordinator for the St. Paul chapter talk about what's happening in the Sudan (http://www.amnestyusa.org/countries/sudan/index.do), but he also announced that he'd been offered a job in Seattle, so the group had to make some administrative decisions. I'd like to see what the Minneapolis chapter (which looks a bit larger) is like.

If you want to hear what's going on in Nepal (another hot spot at the moment), just ask Sween (isn't it your student, Katy?) to tell you about her comp. student who has no way to contact her parents because the king has shut down the country. She can't get back to see them, and they can't fly out of the country to see her. Troubling. Very troubling.

In other news, I stayed over night in Kato Tuesday to work on my Review of Literature chapter of my thesis (Note to Chad: Thanks for letting me crash on your couch Tuesday night - it was far more comfortable than my office floor would have been). After showering, I still felt like a skank in my sweaty tee-shirt and old socks. I was unshaven and a complete mess. So I went to Target and bought some toiletries so I could feel somewhat more human before teaching that afternoon. As I didn't want to make a fool of myself shaving, brushing my teeth, and putting on deodorant in Armstrong's smelly bathrooms, I decided to get ready at Target's WC. I felt (and must have looked) like a homeless man lathering up my neck in the bathroom - it was a new low for me. Next I went to Old Navy to buy a shirt so I could ditch the stanky tee-shirt and sweater. I bought a yellow short sleeve number that shouts "think spring." It looks even better now that I have a sticker on the pocket from Jess - it's a Hello Kitty! inspired seal holding up a yellow card with the number ten. At the bottom in red it says, "Perfect 10" See? I knew there was a reason I loved Jess. Jess, will you bear my children?

What's everybody doing Saturday? What? What? The bloggers are getting together in the cities to sing karaoke at Laura's bar? I thought so.

Sorry guys

Please accept my heartfelt apologies for not blogging in so long. I've been on a bit of a personal retreat from society for a little time, trying to sort out my life. This blog is a super short one to tell you that a bigger one will be posted soon. One thing I do know: My thesis is taking up way too much of my time - It's sapping it out of me.

Anyway, here's a movie everyone should see: Hotel Rwanda. I saw it with my sister, her husband, and our friend Kari two nights ago and it's still resonating with all of us. Ya know what I learned? I don't know a damned thing about what's really going on in the world.

I've decided to start thinking more globally - especially regarding the Sudan right now. Heck, I may even join Amnesty International.

Any thoughts?