Category Archives: Indiana

When Worlds Collide

11 Thursday Nov 2010

Posted by in Bostonia, Elatedness Abounds, Indiana, La Familia, NaBloPoMo 2010

≈ 2 Comments

My [not so big] big sister and my [not technically a baby] baby niece are visiting. Here! In Boston! They arrived a little before 6 this evening, and I haven’t really been able to stop smiling since. In the time that I’ve been in the Boston area, my family has never been able to make it out to visit. My father drove me out and back for school a couple of times, and he came out for my undergraduate graduation, but he never stayed to visit; it was always a quick ding dong ditch, so to speak.

I’ve always kept my Indiana life and my Massachusetts life separate. For so many reasons the two have always just seemed incompatible to me. The people are different, my living locations are drastically different, the culture is different… they’re just… different.

You see, where I come from, it’s normal to say hello, nod, smile, or wave to someone when you pass by them. We’re big into acknowledging other people’s existence. Now, when I first came to Boston, I smiled and waved to people on the street only to be met with downcast glances at shoes or the sidewalk. I am embarrassed to admit that it took me a week or two of thinking I had a wardrobe malfunction or something on my face before I understood that it was just a different culture. You must understand. In Boston, if you acknowledge someone else’s existence in the form of a wave, a smile, a nod, or–Heaven help you–a verbal enunciation, you are signifying that your intentions are anything but noble. By doing such a preposterous thing, you could only desire one of two things: to mug the targeted individual or to assault them. It’s only natural for the target to look down in hope of evading your nefarious plot. Again, I am embarrassed to admit that I only came to this understanding through the aid of a native Bostonian who kindly took me under their wing to show me their strange ways.

So, I got used to blending in and walking and largely ignoring everyone I passed. I had no desire to upset the natives or cause elderly women to think I wished to mug them (this actually happened once because I mistakenly offered to carry her bags up a flight of stairs for her since she was wheezing; side note: her bags contained orthopedic shoes, ideal for cat burglary). I became Massachusetts Lindsay. This caused, and continues to cause, some difficulties when I go back home. It takes me a short period of time to transition back into Indiana Lindsay, acknowledging pulses and responding to people who notice mine. It’s a completely different mindset, you know? That’s just one example, but Indiana and Massachusetts? Very different.

It helps to keep them separate in my mind, because I know only a couple of Hoosiers out here (actually, just re-met someone this weekend from my town/high school who graduated a year ahead of me!), and the fact that Boston and Indianapolis are 1000 miles apart sort of helps matters, too.

I don’t mind this. I left my small town in Indiana for something different. I wanted to experience the world in a different way. Going to Ireland or Austria or Egypt wasn’t within my realm of possibilities (probably a good thing; I don’t think my skin would fare well in Egypt), but going to a different part of the country was, so I went.

Like I said. Different. Separate.

And now my sister and my Alice Elf are here. It’s weird. I have family here and a part of Indiana here. It’s strangely comforting, and I’m finding that it doesn’t bother my compartmentalized brain as much as I thought it would. In fact, I kind of like it.

My sister got stuck in Boston traffic on her drive in to see me. One of the first things she said to me was, “I already hate Boston.”

I’m already finding the two worlds to be surprisingly compatible.

And Now for Something New: A Political Rant!

03 Wednesday Nov 2010

Posted by in Academia, Blargh, Indiana, NaBloPoMo 2010

≈ 2 Comments

I remember hearing horror stories growing up about how bad inner-city schools were—underpaid teachers, large class sizes, no one-on-one instruction, drugs, gangs, violence, pregnancy, &c.  So much of that seemed inconceivable to me when I was younger.  Honestly, in many ways, it still does now, too, even though I know it is a daily reality for all too many.  It just wasn’t something I ever experienced, and so it’s not something that I can really imagine.

My siblings and I were extremely lucky; we grew up in a small town with a lauded public school system.  The education we received was an excellent one, especially in light of the fact that it was a public school.  We had dedicated teachers, small class sizes, advanced classes starting early on, actual face time with teachers, and copious extracurricular opportunities.  We were given nearly every opportunity, and I’m sad to say that I absolutely took it for granted.  That’s not to say that I didn’t indulge and get my education’s worth—I absolutely did—but I didn’t appreciate how lucky I was to have all of that.

I was extremely well-prepared for college and grad school.  The study skills I adopted in high school to cope with the academic rigors and the expectations I placed upon myself served me well when I came to Boston.  My Writing classes freshmen year of college were extremely manageable thanks to my AP English and Interdisc classes in high school and the wonderfully relentless, supportive, and helpful teachers I had who worked with me.  At the time, I didn’t appreciate the availability of resources and support that I had.

There were certainly available resources when I came to college, but I was one fish in a sea of approximately thirty thousand.  I was lucky to get more than five minutes of face time with my professors during office hours.  No, scratch that, I was lucky to get into office hours.  Everything was so impersonal.  I had mistakenly thought growing up that I would love a large university in a large city, as a change of pace, but it wasn’t until I got to Boston that I realized just how helpful and formative the small, personal academic atmosphere I developed in was.

And let’s not forget the fact that I’m somewhat of a nerd and liked to read and learn on my own.  I supplemented my education within my interests.  I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that most people weren’t insomniacs in high school and didn’t have the time and/or inclination to do likewise.  Because, you know, they’re normal.

In yesterday’s election in my hometown, voters turned down a referendum for the school corporation which asked businesses and residents to pay a tax of 29.5 cents of every $100 of their property value for seven years.  It would amount to, I believe, $5.8 million dollars over that time and would help offset educational budget cuts and deal with the increasingly larger student population.  Admittedly, that’s a lot, and I can understand a homeowner’s reluctance to pay more money out of pocket to the school system, especially if their own children or grandchildren are not students within it.

However, given society’s increasing expectations for teachers to co-function as surrogate parents during working hours and for better educational experiences for children, it seems like something needs to give.  We can’t have our cake and eat it, too.  My local hometown newspaper said that voters “now challenge educators to creatively look at their budget.”  Interesting way to put it.  I like that.  I hope current sophomores and juniors remember that when they receive the results of their SATs and ACTs; maybe they can challenge their parents to creatively look at their scores.  It’ll be like interpretive dance.  Everyone will enjoy it.

The rejection of the referendum may now result in the reduction or elimination of: sports, clubs, elementary science technology programs, elementary art, physical education, music, high school and middle school elective programs, administrators, guidance counselors, and teachers.

(And, guys, we had a Forensics elective in high school by the time I graduated.  Talk about making learning fun!)

Well, I don’t know about you, but homeschooling suddenly looks pretty appealing.  Then again, given the current attitude toward the importance of education, perhaps that’s not exactly the best avenue to go down either.

I’m sure the situation will not be as bleak as they portray it in the news.  I’m hoping so, anyway, but it’s still disheartening to me that future graduates of my school system will not receive the same educational experience and opportunities that my siblings and I did.  I feel like we’re failing them.  It’s still a far cry from the schools that have to deal with violence, large drop-out rates, and dire family situations every day, but I never realized how lucky we were.

 

Homeward Bound

02 Monday Aug 2010

Posted by in Alice!, Indiana

≈ 3 Comments

Impulsivity doesn’t particularly suit me.  I like to carefully deliberate and weigh my options, because I am a perfectionist and the thought that I might make the wrong choice is frightening to me.  I have enough of a problem choosing which meal to get at a restaurant or which drink to order.  That being said, it’s not that I can’t do impulsive; it’s just that I don’t.

I made a really impulsive decision last week.

My sister’s been going through a really rough time lately.  Her job runs until the beginning of September, at which time she will receive a severance pay.  Technically, her job should have already ended, but they extended it.  That was difficult on her, because she was looking forward to being a stay-at-home mom for a while and just being with Alice.  She’s not very happy that she should already be doing that but isn’t getting to.  Now, she has a really great babysitter whom she loves and Alice loves.  She’s always had a pretty long commute with having to drop Alice off at the babysitter, go to work, pick Alice up, and then head home.  Her babysitter just moved.  This wouldn’t–and shouldn’t–have been a problem since Sarah should have been done with her job, but she’s not.  Her babysitter now lives even farther away, and my sister is driving four to five hours every day.  That’s a lot of time wasted, a lot of gas wasted, and it quickly sapped her of her patience and sanity.

My sister, though, is a really, really wonderful mother, and she refused to get a new babysitter.  She doesn’t want to risk her daughter’s well-being, especially since Alice is too young to be able to tell her if she’s being mistreated.  And then there’s the fact that Alice is very happy with her babysitter.  She adores her, and my sister wants nothing but the best for her daughter.  And in her mind, it seemed pointless to get someone else to watch Alice when it was only going to be for a month anyway.

Except it’s taking a tremendous toll on my sister.

I talk to her frequently, so I know just how difficult the situation is on her.  I still do not have a job (dislike), and last week I told my sister she had my utmost sympathy and that I wish there was something I could do.  She jokingly said she wished I could fly out and watch Alice.  The next day she called me and said she slept on the idea and realized that it would be the perfect solution.  She offered to fly me back home for a month to babysit Alice, saying she’d pay me what she pays the babysitter so that I could still pay my rent out here in Boston.

The idea was crazy and ridiculous.

I said ok, yes, I’ll do it.

You know, but I need to think about it to make sure.  I thought about it for a few hours, and I realized that it actually made a lot of sense.  For one, I’m guaranteed to get paid.  I don’t have a steady job out here, so I don’t have that guarantee.  Two, it would alleviate a lot of my sister’s stress over driving so much.  Three, my sister won’t have to worry about her daughter’s well-being, because I love that little baby like crazy.  (Granted, I’ve never watched an 11-month-old.  Last time I watched Alice, she was 4 months and not so mobile.  Now she can run.  Very quickly.  And she eats solid foods.  This will make diaper changes interesting.  Also, have I mentioned that I don’t really know how to take care of a baby?  I’ll have to Google that.  I’m sure there’s a handbook online somewhere.)  Four, I get to see my family, and I get to meet little Eliza.  I can, and will, still apply for jobs in Boston while I’m out there, so it’s not as if it will interrupt my job search.  Except for, you know, when I stay at my sister’s house.  The one without internet access.

So, after thinking about it and making a pro and con list, I decided that, yes, I’ll stick to my impulsive response.  I called my sister later that day and told her that, yes, I will definitely do it.  We got online, went through the most horrific ticket buying experience I’ve ever had, and we purchased plane tickets for the worst flying times ever.

I leave tomorrow night, and I will arrive in Indianapolis a bit after midnight.  My brother will be there to pick me up.  I will hug him so hard his ribs bruise, and then he will drive me home.  I will drift to sleep in a different bed than I am accustomed to, thinking of the sister I temporarily left behind in Boston, already beginning a mental countdown to my return.  Then I will wake up, and I will see my other sister and her gorgeous little girl, and as soon as I engulf both of them in my arms, I will feel the rightness of my impulsive act.  I will know I did the right thing.  I may not do impulsive, but I didn’t do this for me; I did it for them.  And it was right.

But I think it’ll do me some good as well.

Thanks a Lot, Indiana

05 Wednesday Nov 2008

Posted by in Indiana

≈ 4 Comments

So, the motherland (What?  It’s like a different country than here.) has always been extremely conservative.  That’s what I grew up with.  Well, my family wasn’t, but the environment surrounding me was.  Conservative, conservative, conservative.  And what can you always count on with conservatives?  The fact that they are vehemently conservative.  My state bleeds red.  In fact, our electoral votes haven’t gone to a democrat presidential candidate since 1964, I believe.

I happened to mention this in passing when discussing this election with someone, and they asked me who I thought would win Indiana.  I scoffed at the question and said, “McCain, naturally.”  They asked me why I was so sure, and I pointed out to them what I just mentioned to you, and then I added, “Besides, I grew up there!  I’m a Hoosier, born and bread!  Trust me, I know.”  In fact, I was so certain of the voting outcome that I made a bet.  I do not bet often, but I rarely ever lose.  I figured that it was an easy win.  I agreed that if, in some crazy mixed up world,  Indiana’s electoral votes went to Obama, I would dye my hair.  I have never dyed my hair.  I rather like my hair color.  It’s difficult to describe.  It’s a medium brown color, but it has a lot of red and gold in it.  The color seems to change in different lights.  It’s neat and chameleon-like.

Last night I watched nervously as the votes went back and forth, back and forth.  I couldn’t take it anymore, and I went to bed sometime between 11:30 and midnight (the earliest I’ve gone to bed in MONTHS!), and at that time, it was only reporting 97% of the vote.  Obama was leading, but it was close.  I was nervous, but I still thought I would win.  I mean, it was less than a percentage, and, after all, Hoosiers bleed red.  I had nothing to worry about!

WRONG.  WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.  Today I woke up only to find that Indiana was called in Obama’s favor.  I checked multiple times, and I was so stunned that I washed my hair with shaving gel.  I checked again.  And again.  I lost.

So, on Friday, I will be buying hair dye and dying my hair for the first time ever, and I will be weeping the entire time.

Any suggestions as to what color I should dye my hair?  My only requirement is that it must be a relatively naturally occurring hair color.  I’m not ready for anything drastic.  This will be traumatic enough.

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

12 Saturday Jan 2008

Posted by in Indiana, La Familia, Moobies

≈ 2 Comments

I spent the past week (read: last week of my break) working & relaxing with very little computer time. I’ve been working on my personal statement & my thesis proposal for my grad school application due Tuesday (eek!) and hanging out with family. My sister had never seen Gilmore Girls which has resulted in many sleepless nights for me, so I finally decided to rectify the situation. I got her to begin watching the show under the false pretense that there was a midget in it. She has since finished up the first season and become addicted, and I have never been more proud to admit that we share genes.

Oh, and for all those wondering, my father’s surgery went splendidly. He’s been off his feet for the most part since it happened (because it was a foot surgery), but he’s ever so slowly starting to walk around a little bit. It will supposedly take about eight to ten weeks for him to heal fully, and probably about the same amount of time before he is able to go back to work. In the meantime, he will get to rest a lot and watch a lot of jewelry shopping channels on TV.

Yesterday evening I got home from spending three days with my brother & sister-in-law at their house. It was a very fun three days. I got to spend time with my brother, my sister-in-law and their puppy Gryffin (who happens to be a very large puppy!). My brother & I watched some movies together, as per usual. The first evening we all watched Return of the King. My sister-in-law hadn’t seen the third movie and hadn’t seen the other two in so long that I spent most of the movie explaining everything. “That one’s Pippin; the other one’s Merry. Strider & Aragorn are the same person. Yes, Aragorn is the king of Gondor, the other guy is just a steward. That other place is Rohan. Eowyn is Theoden’s niece. Theoden is the king of Rohan. Eowyn is in love with Aragorn, but Aragorn is in love with Arwen. Arwen is that elf — the daughter of Elrond. …Liv Tyler. Those things are the Nazgûl; they’re the nine kings of men who were greedy and now serve Sauron. Sméagol & Gollum are the same, kind of. Sméagol is the good one, who he used to be; Gollum is the bad one, the name he went by after the whole ring thing.” Let me just tell you, I have never been more aware of my nerdiness. I told my dad about it and he laughed. My brother & I watched War together, and we both happened to think it was a pretty fun movie (minus the fact that it is very not family-friendly). He wanted to watch it for Jason Statham; I wanted to watch it for Jet Li. It all worked out. Thursday night the three of us went out bowling with two of Ben’s friends. I hadn’t been bowling in forever, so I had a lot of fun. However, I should note that I am a horrendous bowler. Really, awful. If I score above a 40, I think I’ve done smashingly. The first game I got a 62 and I was ridiculously proud of myself. The second game? I got a 93. It was my highest score ever and I was about ready to start my own parade. I called my dad to tell him the good news and he laughed for about three minutes straight. I am not talking a chuckle or a giggle here — I am talking full-on knee-slapping, I’m-about-to-pee-myself, ache-in-your-belly kind of laugh. I wanted to know what was so funny and he responded, “A 62, huh? I’ve known little kids who could bowl higher than that!” and continued to laugh. Then he added, “A 92, though, that’s a pretty respectable score. If you only have one eye and one leg.” Phooey on him, I’m proud of myself. I suppose this is evidence that I am definitely more of an intellectual than a jock. I don’t think anyone needed proof, though.

Yesterday I spent the day with my sister-in-law since she didn’t have to work. I set up a website and a gallery for her & my brother since she wanted someplace she could write and share pictures to keep their family & friends up to date with their lives. We played with the puppy some and she took me out to lunch where I had the best sandwich of my life. We also went to PetSmart to return a polka dotted collar that was deemed “too gay” for Gryffin. While there I saw a cat in the adoption centre that looked an awful lot like my LilyCat and I cried a little. After that we went to Michaels and I found a calligraphy pen that I actually liked with a set of nibs. I purchased that, an ink well, a beginner’s book on calligraphy and parchment paper to practise on. I’m very excited. I only hope that I have the time this semester to learn, then I will handwrite beautiful letters (ha!) to any and everyone who wants one. However, since my sister-in-law helped me with my decision (because I am slightly picky — who’da thought? — and indecisive), she gets the first letter.

I took a video of Gryffin while I was taking care of him during the day (along with a lot of pictures, but they will be posted at a later date) and I managed to get him to fetch. The video is a few minutes long and it is rather hectic and nauseating at the beginning. In fact, it might give you vertigo. It does get better, though. I think. I haven’t actually watched it myself because I can’t stand hearing my own voice. I sound like a 12-year-old. Oh, and stupid. I sound very stupid. (This is why I don’t do phones, but as dumb as I sound in this video? Multiply that by ten and you’ll know what it’s like to talk to me on the phone.) Hopefully you’ll be so kind as to ignore my voice entirely and to just watch the cute puppy. Really, if you’d rather watch it on mute that’d be entirely ok as well. Go here to view the video.

The Super Bowl? It’s a Midwest Thang, Y’all.

04 Sunday Feb 2007

Posted by in Indiana

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This year it is anyway. The Colts finally made it, and there is no way that I can possibly put to words what every Hoosier has been feeling for the past 2 weeks, and most especially today. To make it to the Super Bowl is, of course, a joyous event for any team and its fans, but after several years of almost making it, only to fall ever so short of the tantalising glory as it slipped through our fingers, we are finally here. We finally made it, and it will be a day that will live on in the memories of most Hoosiers for years to come: 2006-2007, the year we finally made it to the Super Bowl. Regardless of the outcome of tonight’s game, I couldn’t be more excited or proud of the Colts and what they’ve accomplished. This has been a long time coming for the Colts and they deserve it. I don’t even think individuals who don’t like the Colts can deny that. The heart that this team has definitely shows. Go Horse! Go Colts! :)

Click here to read Bob Kravitz’ article “We’ve all shared in team’s journey” and here for all the Colts coverage and articles by the Indianapolis Star. :) I hope you all have a fantastic Super Bowl Sunday!

Travelin’ Bartender

18 Thursday May 2006

Posted by in Indiana, Quotes

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“Really, what Johnny Appleseed was doing and the reason he was welcome in every cabin in Ohio and Indiana was he was bringing the gift of alcohol to the frontier. He was our American Dionysus.”  – Michael Pollan

Disturbing test results

28 Friday Apr 2006

Posted by in Indiana, Silliness, Steven

≈ 1 Comment

Well, this is ironic on so many levels.

“Which Presidential Candidate Are You?

You’re Michael Badnarik!

A software engineer from Indiana, you have worked as a computer programmer in such auspicious places as the Zion and Diablo Canyon nuclear power plants. You also created computer simulations that were integral to the creation of the stealth bomber, but had to flee your California home when the state enacted strict gun laws. Naturally, you relocated to Texas.

Largely motivated by your gun rights activism, you initially ran for office as part of the Libertarian party in 2000; in 2004 you’re running again, and attempting to promote a campaign for States’ rights. In most cases you oppose regulation – for example against offensive content in broadcast media, and in abortion cases – and believe in free trade wherever possible.

Controversially, you believe in privatising education entirely, eliminating the Department of Education; you also believe in eliminating any sort of public health care. Who needs those poor people anyway? Laissez faire, baby!”

Continue reading »

Back Home Again In Indiana…

04 Saturday Feb 2006

Posted by in Elatedness Abounds, Indiana

≈ 3 Comments

Kalin introduced me to comedian Jim Gaffigan. She had gone to one of his shows for Comedy Central and it was on Comedy Central last weekend so a bunch of us watched it. Hilarious stuff. Jim is a Hoosier originally, and I found a clip of a show where he talked about Indiana and it was just too funny to not post.

“I’m originally from Indiana. I know what most of you are thinking: Indiana… Mafia, but the fact of the matter is, where I grew up there was something very similar to the Mafia. 4-H. You didn’t mess with 4-H unless you wanna wake up with a cow head in your bed. There’s a different kind of pride where I’m from. It’s not like, ‘We’re from New York; we’re tough!’ or, ‘We’re from Texas; we like things big!’ It’s more like, ‘We’re from Indiana. And… we’re going to move! We’re gettin’ outta here.’ It’s fun being on the east coast when you’re from the midwest because people are nice but they’re very condescending. ‘You from where? Indiana? Oh, welcome. There’s electricity, and there’s a stool; you don’t gotta sit on the ground no more.’ A lot of people on the east coast view Indiana the same way you view Dolly Parton’s Dollywood. You know, you’ve heard of it but you’re not really sure where it is but you’re pretty sure you’re never gonna fucking go there. ‘Oh, I’ll never go there. I’ve heard of it, though!’ People have driven through Indiana. Periodically someone will go, ‘Oh, you’re from Indiana? I drove through Indiana once.’ I never know what to say… ‘I remember you. You were a very good driver. How’d you stay in-between those lines?’ At least I don’t lie about where I’m from. I love it when people do that. It’s like, ‘Hey, where’re you from?’ ‘Me, I’m from Chicago.’ ‘Oh really? Where in Chicago?’ ‘Uhhh, outside Chicago.’ ‘Where outside Chicago?’ ‘Milwaukee.’ ‘Oh really? I’m from the future.’ Back home at Christmas, whenever I go home, my brothers and sisters think I’ve changed so much. They’re always like, ‘Oh, welcome home, Mr. New York. What’s that you’re wearing, Mr. Stylish New Yorker?’ ‘It’s a belt.’ Back home I was walking around the K-Mart in our hometown, or as we called it, ‘The Mall.’ I was walking around the K-Mart and I saw a guy in the K-Mart drinking a cup of KFC gravy. And you know, I love gravy too but I’ve never considered it a beverage. Wouldn’t you love to be the doctor of this guy? ‘Hey, how ya doin’ there, Mr. Jones? I’m your doctor, I got your cholesterol here. You’re where your blood’s not moving. This is kind of a strange question, um, you haven’t been drinking gravy, have ya? Because you’re like 90% meat byproduct. We’re gonna have to register you with the government.’”

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