Post Reading Week - Yet Still, I Read

Well, you may imagine that things would change radically from Reading Week to another 'not Reading' week, but this is not so much the case in my world. For the most part I am pushing on with reading.

I'll post some thoughts on classes after this - but thought I might also draw your attention to an essay I blurted out last week: Buddhism vs. Marxism in the West: Foes or Allies..? A long, but hopefully thought-provoking account of the potential goods and evils of both Buddhism and Marxism in the current day. I say that I 'blurted' it out because that is basically how it happened: I saw the talk on Tuesday and it bounced in and out of my thoughts for a couple days. Then, on Thursday I just HAD to write out a response, just to get it out of me so I could focus on my studies. So, the whole thing was basically written in one evening, something I wish I could do with my academic essays!

In other news, things have been quite boring - which is good I suppose. Other than a drink with Tuesday's speaker, Dr. Daniel Webster, and my professor after the talk that gave rise to the above essay, I've maintained three weeks of absolute sobriety. It's amazing, and I must continue to tell myself this, the difference in mental clarity that arises after a few weeks + of sobriety.

I’ll be home in Montana in just 2 weeks. That is also kind of amazing, and I’m happy to be able to return for the holidays. I'm looking forward to the cold blue skies of Montana, the inviting aromas of Mother's cooking, the craziness of family as the presents begin to pile under the well decorated plastic Christmas tree, and the buzz of anticipation from my nephew and niece as the big day draws near.