Bookworms are real

Here are some fun facts I learned this week: bookworms are a real thing, and Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi” came out in 2002. It was the first song I loved, but not until ‘08 or ‘09, when I remember plopping in front of my family’s desktop to watch a lyric video on repeat. The background was orange, I think, and the letters were purple. The lyrics lay dormant in my brain for many years, but the song came on at lift the other day, and the words are apparently still in there.

In other news, schoolwork started heating up this week. I decided to stay in my philosophy class but take it pass/fail so I can still learn without stressing. My first paper is due this Friday, and I’ve got to start thinking about my anthropology paper for next week. I enjoyed the beginning of the semester, when I mostly had to read articles and show up to class, but now it’s time to write things.

I’m also working on two internship/fellowship applications for March 1 deadlines. Those are a time suck. I spend two hours on peace & justice studies readings and I’m mostly done. After two hours on an application, I’m lucky if I’ve written a couple paragraphs.

But I did some really fun stuff this week! The book arts lab and library special collections had an open house on Tuesday. I got to print an old campus map on a 1960s printing press and look at books from the 1400s! I learned that bookworms are a real thing. They are bugs that eat books.

That evening, my buddy Alison and I made pinkish heart-shaped pancakes to celebrate Valentine’s Day. We got pink frosting from dining hall cookie decorating and ate our sugar-topped pancakes on the floor of the kitchenette. It was lovely.

Last night, Japan Club put on its biggest event of the year, Yuki Matsuri. I enjoyed yummy snacks and performances by on- and off-campus groups. I ate too much mochi and noodles and went to bed happy and full.

Today, I was back to work, but not without splitting a loaf of pumpkin bread with Alison in the Shafer basement.