I went to the Welcome Center at the University today to do some research for a project. The woman at the desk was, true to her calling, very welcoming. I asked her a question and she didn't know (it's not called the Answer Center, after all) and she decided to call someone to help me.
She asked my name and let's say I said,
"Epiphenita."
"Teresa?"
"Epiph-enita"
"Felita?"
"No, Epiphenita."
"Alicia?"
"Yes. Alicia."
I've been thinking a lot about leadership.
About the balance between being strong and ruthless.
About the balance between being über egalitarian and ineffectual.
Of course, it doesn't have to be one or the other.
But it is rarely clearly, cleanly one or the other.
As a woman, claiming power is the sound of cymbals crashing in my head.
At once, invigorating and terrifying.
I jump up in excitement and recoil.
Such figurative schizophrenia makes me angry.
But anger is a stupid response because this is about balance.
Which is never simple and never clear.
Even for men. I don't know.
I've been thinking a lot about leadership.
There are times that I can feel great despair over the human condition. Then I see something like this and, difficult as it may be for some of you to join in my glee, I feel hope.
Rather than choose shame or self-loathing for a genetic condition that falls outside the norm (syndactyly), this person takes their particular set of assets, marries form to function and infuses (an offering, oh mighty pun-gods.) the whole thing with humor. What a marvelous tat, indeed.
Then there is this. I want my driveway covered with lizards.
Have I mentioned that I adore Cory Doctorow? I don't read sci-fi as a rule but most of the random boingboing posts I am drawn to are authored by him.
I'll read his stuff...got to get through Moby Dick first. Which, by the way, is great but not quick read. Halfway there.
In the meantime, I will dream and plot all the ways I can surround myself with beautiful, well-crafted, funny things.
