Three things in life you can count on

Death.
Taxes.
Controversy involving the Greek system at DePauw University.

Long story short, Delta Zeta Nationals is looking to boost membership of the DePauw chapter and booted (excuse me, granted alumna status) to those members they deemed not thin enough or pretty enough. And did I mention some of them were also minority women? Because pretty girls are more capable of attracting members than not so pretty ones.

The story has gotten so big it has even attracted the attention of the New York Times. And Paula Zahn over at CNN devoted 15 minutes to the story at the top of the hour. My dad called to tell me about that one.

I was a Greek woman at DePauw (thought not Delta Zeta). The sad thing is that this doesn't surprise me in the least. And while I think the actions of DZ Nationals are petty and the antithesis of "sisterhood," the reality is that the social climate at DePauw added the fuel to the fire. For all it's academics and awards, DePauw is 70% Greek and the influence of the system has permeated into every aspect of the University. . . .academics, social life, alumni involvement, fundraising, etc. Abolish the Greek system at DePauw and millions of alumni contributions will disappear too. Hot fraternity guys want to party with hot sorority girls and vice versa. And everyone, men and women, want to be associated with the in-crowd. So if you have a bad rush and don't attract the "right" people, others fraternities and/or sororities aren't as inclined to socialize with you because you don't have the right reputation. That's how DePauw was before I got there and how it was after I left. And if you don't have the right reputation you're rush numbers will continue to dip. It's not about sisterhood, it's about perception.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/25/education/25sorority.html?ei=5087%0A&em=&en=c8f0c116efb32f25&ex=1172638800&pagewanted=all

MY mommy!

Noah said the cutest thing today.

His preschool has all-school Shabbat on the last Friday of the month and parents are welcome to attend. So I dropped Noah off at his classroom, worked out, and came downstairs to meet his class. When the came through the door he looked at me grabbed my hand and said to his teachers and his friends, "That's my mommy. That's MMMYYY mommy! It was very sweet!

Oh the things from Noah's mouth

Noah: Whine, whine, whine, whine. . . .
Mommy: Noah, would you like some cheese with that whine?
Noah: Sniffle, sniffle. . . .yes (said in the most pathetic possible for a two year old).

Noah: Cry, cry, cry (at 6:30 a.m.)
Daddy: Noah, you need to back to sleep.
Noah: No daddy, I want my yellow bee (pacifier).
Daddy: Where is it?
Noah: Mommy took it.
(Bear in mind mommy is in bed, immune to Noah's tears becaus she sleeps with earplugs. And for the record, mommy gave Noah his yellow bee at bedtime the night before.)

Noah: I want to watch Wiggles.
Two minutes later. . .
Noah: I want to watch ABC's (a different DVD)
Two minutes later. . .
Noah: I want to watch Dora.
Mommy: Just pick a goddamn video and watch it (said quietly, to herself).

Noah: Molly is licking my tushie
(Said as my parent's dog is using her head to push Noah in his midsection.)

And finally. . .

Unnamed family member: Noah, do you know what the F-word is?
Noah: Yes. . .
Unnamed family member: What is it?
Noah: Karie.
(Karie is Aunt Karie and anyone who has met my family will see the humor in this exchange. The fact that Noah associates the f-word with his aunt is strangely appropriate.)

Experimenting with Video

There is an outdoor mall near our house that we love taking Noah to. They have a water play area which is great when the weather is warm, stores, lots of family-friendly places to eat, and live music on the weekends. Noah has a blast whenever we go and last weekend there was a great band playing. After eating his favorite ice cream (banana with a few gummy bears, yuck!) we shot this video of him dancing. What he lacks in rhythm he clearly makes up for with enthusiasm.

http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b83/gingi1998/?action=view&current=DesertRidge002.flv

THEY DID IT!

The Indianapolis Colts won Superbowl XLI! Dan and I (especially Dan) are so excited that theu won and at the same time I think we are both a little sad that we are not in Indianapolis to celebrate with the rest of the city. It's like when the Diamondbacks won the World Series and we were living in Indy. We were excited and no one else cared.

But regardless, Peyton and the Colts won the Superbowl!