Happy New Year!

Hope your year is off to a great start.  I had a fantastic New Years Eve, despite being sick for the last six days.

Sadly, I have already broken my New Years resolution of doing some creative writing everyday.  Ha!  And inspiration for getting going with this?

privilege meme

(via johnaegard)

From What Privileges Do You Have?, based on an exercise about class and privilege developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University. If you participate in this blog game, they ask that you PLEASE acknowledge their copyright.

Bold the true statements, then put on a Scottish accent and complain about the kids nowadays.

1. Father went to college

2. Father finished college

3. Mother went to college

4. Mother finished college

5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor

6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers.

7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.

8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home.

9. Were read children's books by a parent

10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18.
(saxophone and bassoon)

11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18

12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively

13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18

14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs

15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs

16. Went to a private high school

17. Went to summer camp
(I earned half of this myself selling Almond Roca).

18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18

19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels

20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18

21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them
(After college graduation my parents went in on a $1200 1980 Toyoto Corolla).

22. There was original art in your house when you were a child

23. You and your family lived in a single-family house

24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home
(not outright...still both paying)

25. You had your own room as a child
(sometimes)

26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18

27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course

28. Had your own TV in your room in high school

29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college

30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16

31. Went on a cruise with your family
(This didn't happen until 2 years ago, and it was free because my brother worked for them so I'm not counting that).

32. Went on more than one cruise with your family

33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up

34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family

Grand total: 18

I've always felt very privileged, even though when I was growing up we didn't have much money.

December 2007 books

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