Ask me anything

sarah0725

It's 10 PM, too late to start on a new project, and I just sat down with an hour to kill and a glass of white zinfandel. I managed to meet all my goals for today, so I am feeling pretty happy.So go ahead, ask me anything... (we'll see if this actually takes off or not)

MandaBelle1211

What would you like to do with your PhD?

sarah0725

Ideally, I'll teach undergrads somewhere relatively nice (with mountains nearby) and publish books and articles, and give lectures sometimes. That's generally the main goal if you're in the humanities and not into museum work.Recently, though, I've been wondering if I could go work for the Coen Brothers picking out what sculptures they put behind characters' heads in their movies. I'm mostly joking about that one though.

squirrly

Why the elephant?

MeaghanandMichael

Tell me about your visions of anarchy for the US... if everything worked out according to your espoused political views.

squirrly

And, why the really long engagement?  Is white zin normally your favorite wine?Favorite & least favorite things about having an LDR?

sarah0725

Why not the elephant? It's awesome, it's 20 minutes away from the place where we got engaged, it was built during the 1880s, which is the period I'm studying for my dissertation, and the fee we pay for using it goes directly into the Save Lucy preservation fund. Pretty much everything we could possibly want. Also, we get to take cool wedding pictures on the boardwalk in Ocean City after the reception.

sarah0725

Tell me about your visions of anarchy for the US... if everything worked out according to your espoused political views.I self-identify as an anarchist but I don't think it would ever work on a grand scale because people are lazy, and somebody needs to fix the infrastructure when it stops working. FI used to live in a house with our anarchist collective in college, and nobody ever did the dishes, despite the fact that they had decided by consensus that there would be a schedule for dish-doing.The best model for me would be as much decentralized organization as possible (I'd like to see universities run collectively for instance) but still with a central government.I still call myself an anarchist though because I think it's a life philosophy as much as it is anything else. I'm generally drawn to things that are subversive, whether that is in comedy, art, or life. It's a better label for what I believe than any other, even if it's not perfect.

ricksang

Why Civil War Bride? Which side are you on? This is very important.

MeaghanandMichael

hahah at this ---> FI used to live in a house with our anarchist collective in college, and nobody ever did the dishes, despite the fact that they had decided by consensus that there would be a schedule for dish-doing.How do you feel about feminism?What is your favorite board game?Have you ever drink drunk/tipsy?

sarah0725

And, why the really long engagement? Well, we are living apart right now for reasons that can't be compromised (Olympic dreams, Ph.D.), and we didn't want to get married until we could bridge the gap. A long engagement is rough, but I still think getting engaged when we did was the best thing, because it has made the last year or so psychologically much easier than the years apart when I was still wondering what would happen with us. We'll get there eventually.Is white zin normally your favorite wine?Certainly not. I buy it because it is $5 a bottle and easy to drink when I am here alone. Generally my favorite wines are pinot grigios.Favorite & least favorite things about having an LDR?Well the least favorite is obviously that I don't get to see him, and the more time we spend in a relationship the more I feel like half my heart is in Wisconsin. I'm not complete when he's not here. But there are good things, like the fact that we talk on a phone for a solid hour every day, and during that time we are really spending time together and really listening to each other. Also, when I'm as busy as I am right now, it's good to have fewer distractions.

sarah0725

Why Civil War Bride? Which side are you on? This is very important.Civil War Bride is because I'm writing my dissertation on Civil War monuments. And I grew up in NJ, so obviously I'm a Billy Yank.

ricksang

Awesome about the paper. I love anything war related. BUT, I have to shun you now for being a YANK. ;P

sarah0725

How do you feel about feminism?I'd consider myself to be a feminist, but of the cuddly variety, just like I consider myself to be a cuddly anarchist/atheist. I know there are lots of movements in feminism and I don't know their names. Generally, I really get annoyed when people start talking about the patriarchy, but I definitely notice when the two men in our department are favored and lavished with attention much more than the twenty-odd women.What is your favorite board game?Historically, I have never liked board games, but I am starting to warm up to group games like Hoopla.Have you ever drink drunk/tipsy?I think you drinked this question drunk/tipsy.

sarah0725

Haha ricks, I get that a lot. Since I go to school right at the threshold of the south, there are a lot of girls from Texas/Florida/Georgia in my program, and they all give me a hard time. I once got in a big fight with some people over whether or not Sherman was a war criminal.The South will be well represented in my dissertation, though, and fairly.

Lovie 129

Civil War monuments, that's interesting. I'm from Richmond, Va and now live in Hbg, Pa....not too far from Gettysburg. What made you want to write about those monuments?

MeaghanandMichael

ahhahah yeah def meant driven ;)dammit I am only 2 glasses of wine in too!Thoughts on reality tv?If you were to donate money to a charity, which one would it be?

sarah0725

Civil War monuments, that's interesting. I'm from Richmond, Va and now live in Hbg, Pa....not too far from Gettysburg. What made you want to write about those monuments?I've been a Civil War enthusiast ever since I was a kid, when the Ken Burns series was on PBS and it really impressed me. I got into art history when I was a junior in college, and took a class on monuments shortly after. When I realized that I could combine art history with doing Civil War stuff for the rest of my life, I was totally hooked. I'm really into sculpture, and I like being outside and driving around and taking pictures of things, so the topic really fits me.

sarah0725

ahhahah yeah def meant driven ;)dammit I am only 2 glasses of wine in too!Can't say I ever have... the idea scares me too much. Most of the time when I drink I am within walking or train distance of home, and if not I make plans to stay over.Thoughts on reality tv?I'm okay with it. It's definitely something that can suck you in.If you were to donate money to a charity, which one would it be?Hm, I haven't thought about that one in a while, since I don't have money to give. Probably something animal-related, because animals can't do anything about the things that humans do to them.

squirrly

Best & worst civil war monuments?Best wine (vineyard details please!)Olympic dreams?  I think I missed this one.If you could never drink wine again, to what would you default?Do you want kids?  If so, when?

sarah0725

Best & worst civil war monuments?Hm... well, two of my favorites are the statue of Grant that's in front of the Capitol (you see it in lots of movies, and he looks like he's hunching against the rain), and the Sixth NY Cavalry Memorial on Buford Ave (I think) at Gettysburg. Worst is a big category, because there are a lot that are bad or weird, but some of the dumbest are probably these generic piles of cannonballs commemorating different generals that I saw at Shiloh.Best wine (vineyard details please!)I don't know about the vineyard exactly, but I get this $10 bottle of Tomaiolo Pinot Grigio that is terrific. It's probably going to be one of our wedding wines.Olympic dreams? I think I missed this one.FI is an elite level speedskater, and he is going to be competing in Olympic trials for Vancouver starting in 30 days.If you could never drink wine again, to what would you default?Beer. I'm a big fan of both wine and beer.Do you want kids? If so, when?Yes, FI and I both want kids, and we talk about it a lot. I need to finish my dissertation first, though, so maybe four more years or so.

ricksang

The South will be well represented in my dissertation, though, and fairly.Fair enough!

vitamint

wow, you are really interesting! Good luck to your FI- that is very cool- Olympics. if you lov civil war come to DC/VA/MD we have tons of stuff. I love elephants and I was wondering- I missed something- are you having an elephant at your wedding? How can I do that?