I've resolved recently to be a better person, in a "life of the mind" sort of sense. (Isn't that one of Kenyon's slogans? "The life of the mind?" Or maybe Grinnell's? Oberlin's?) That a while ago involved starting to read some of the classics in the world of literature, starting with some Dostoyevsky and Joyce (I loved The Brothers Karamazov especially), and now continuing with Moby Dick, which I'm finding full of wisdom:
"All our arguing with him would not avail [to convert Queequeg]; let him be, I say: and Heaven have mercy on us all - Presbyterians and Pagans alike - for we are all somehow dreadfully cracked about the head, and sadly need mending."
And wit:
[The landlady, when she thinks Queequeg's committed suicide]: "'He's killed himself,' she cried. 'It's unfort'nate Stiggs done over again - there goes another counterpane - God pity his poor mother! - it will be the ruin of my house... Betty, go to Snarles the Painter, and tell him to paint me a sign, with - "no suicides permitted here, and no smoking in the parlor;" - might as well kill both birds at once.'"
In the meantime, I've also recently gone to a poetry reading (as mentioned before), an exhibit of modern Chinese paintings at the art museum, a talk by Australian High Justice Michael Kirby about Alfred Kinsey's continuing effect on law and jurisprudence, and a play by Harold Pinter (The Birthday Party). I'm already getting excited about plans for this week, which include a panel on recent events in Lebanon, perhaps a visit to the Mathers Museum of World Cultures, perhaps a talk on Degas' "Woman with a Bandage," events from the Bioneers Annual Satellite Conference on "Visionary and Practical Solutions for Restoring Earth and People," and maybe even more. I'm really happy that I feel like I'm making up for all the wonderful opportunities I didn't take advantage of at Kenyon. It's all very exciting.