Saturday, August 30, 2003
15 days 'til Springsteen
I'm trying to figure out some things, like this one friend who used to tell me everything and is now apparently dealing with a crisis that I haven't been let in on. Makes me scratch my head and sort of feel abandoned. Or something. Icky, really, but indescribably so.
And how to be a good manager without trying to micro-manage, without sweating all the small stuff. How to coordinate and not mandate. How to mandate but be reasonable. How to be in charge, but not overbearing. How to be friendly, but not necessarily a friend.
But last night was a fun night (Durham Bulls with the SILS kids), today will be a fun day (birthday lunch for Karen with a bunch of friends), and Monday will be the most fun of all (Counting Crows and John Mayer). Long weekends are a beautiful thing.
I'm trying to figure out some things, like this one friend who used to tell me everything and is now apparently dealing with a crisis that I haven't been let in on. Makes me scratch my head and sort of feel abandoned. Or something. Icky, really, but indescribably so.
And how to be a good manager without trying to micro-manage, without sweating all the small stuff. How to coordinate and not mandate. How to mandate but be reasonable. How to be in charge, but not overbearing. How to be friendly, but not necessarily a friend.
But last night was a fun night (Durham Bulls with the SILS kids), today will be a fun day (birthday lunch for Karen with a bunch of friends), and Monday will be the most fun of all (Counting Crows and John Mayer). Long weekends are a beautiful thing.
Friday, August 29, 2003
It's Friday, I'm in love
In love with Fridays, that is!
Today in Intro. to Hispanic Lit, I talked with my students about narrators. They can be reliable or unreliable, those pesky narrators. In Spanish, the phrase used for this concept translates literally as "unworthy of trust." Is that the same as unreliable? Similar, but not the same, right? Anyway, I also made the point that the "I" isn't necessarily the author, but rather the narrator (who could be fictional!). I illustrated this by turning into an insane murderer and literally shouting "Soy loca! Voy a matar a mi madre!" (I'm crazy! I'm going to kill my mother!). I asked them: is this me, Dr. Sandlin, talking? Or is this a fictional person that I have created and am currently channeling? They didn't answer very quickly, so...there must be some doubts.
In love with Fridays, that is!
Today in Intro. to Hispanic Lit, I talked with my students about narrators. They can be reliable or unreliable, those pesky narrators. In Spanish, the phrase used for this concept translates literally as "unworthy of trust." Is that the same as unreliable? Similar, but not the same, right? Anyway, I also made the point that the "I" isn't necessarily the author, but rather the narrator (who could be fictional!). I illustrated this by turning into an insane murderer and literally shouting "Soy loca! Voy a matar a mi madre!" (I'm crazy! I'm going to kill my mother!). I asked them: is this me, Dr. Sandlin, talking? Or is this a fictional person that I have created and am currently channeling? They didn't answer very quickly, so...there must be some doubts.
Thursday, August 28, 2003
And still I blog
I was talking to Jean, Justin, and Jason at lunch today about my crazy schedule, and Justin replied, incredulously, "and you still blog!" Well, yeah. This blogging thing is my down time. A little bit of relaxation, soothing words to end my crazy days.
HEY, some awesome news!!! The editors of a new book to be titled Writing Of(f) the Hyphen: Critical Perspectives on the Literature of the Puerto Rican Diaspora are interested in publishing my essay about Manuel Ramos Otero, a Puerto Rican author who lived in and wrote from New York, in a self-imposed exile that he describes as a result of his open homosexuality, which severely marginalized him in Puerto Rico. Interestingly, though, he wrote all of his works in Spanish. So is he a US Latino author? Or is he an island author? Or somewhere in the margins of both?? His literature is totally mind-boggling in its complexity sometimes, but I like it because it is a puzzle that I want to solve. And I think his bending and blending of gender lines is an amazing contribution to a body of literature (PR) that has been historically very traditional and very homophobic. Sadly, he died with HIV in 1990, and many people still don't know anything about his life or his work.
My essay hasn't been accepted, but they liked the abstract and now want to see the whole thing. The deadline is somewhat insane, but I feel motivated and interested, so I will make it. But, with this new thing on the to-do list, my life just got a wee bit crazier (and I didn't think that was possible!).
I was talking to Jean, Justin, and Jason at lunch today about my crazy schedule, and Justin replied, incredulously, "and you still blog!" Well, yeah. This blogging thing is my down time. A little bit of relaxation, soothing words to end my crazy days.
HEY, some awesome news!!! The editors of a new book to be titled Writing Of(f) the Hyphen: Critical Perspectives on the Literature of the Puerto Rican Diaspora are interested in publishing my essay about Manuel Ramos Otero, a Puerto Rican author who lived in and wrote from New York, in a self-imposed exile that he describes as a result of his open homosexuality, which severely marginalized him in Puerto Rico. Interestingly, though, he wrote all of his works in Spanish. So is he a US Latino author? Or is he an island author? Or somewhere in the margins of both?? His literature is totally mind-boggling in its complexity sometimes, but I like it because it is a puzzle that I want to solve. And I think his bending and blending of gender lines is an amazing contribution to a body of literature (PR) that has been historically very traditional and very homophobic. Sadly, he died with HIV in 1990, and many people still don't know anything about his life or his work.
My essay hasn't been accepted, but they liked the abstract and now want to see the whole thing. The deadline is somewhat insane, but I feel motivated and interested, so I will make it. But, with this new thing on the to-do list, my life just got a wee bit crazier (and I didn't think that was possible!).
Wednesday, August 27, 2003
I have about seven minutes until I'm supposed to be working on lesson plans and other back-to-school madness. So far, so good, but I feel really tired. Like I've been run over by a truck a couple o' times.
I taught my classes for the first time, and they were all great. I had a lot of fun in all three classes, and everyone seems really enthusiastic and ready to get to work. I have the worst classroom ever for foreign language teaching: a seminar room that doesn't even have enough space between the tables and the wall to really walk around the tables. No overhead projector because there's no space to put one. Many of the students have their backs to the only chalkboard at all times. It's a total nightmare, and I'm told I have to wait two weeks before they can see if something else is open. The other two rooms are beautiful and include every technological wonder I could ever need, including wireless. I guess 2 out of 3 ain't bad.
I taught my classes for the first time, and they were all great. I had a lot of fun in all three classes, and everyone seems really enthusiastic and ready to get to work. I have the worst classroom ever for foreign language teaching: a seminar room that doesn't even have enough space between the tables and the wall to really walk around the tables. No overhead projector because there's no space to put one. Many of the students have their backs to the only chalkboard at all times. It's a total nightmare, and I'm told I have to wait two weeks before they can see if something else is open. The other two rooms are beautiful and include every technological wonder I could ever need, including wireless. I guess 2 out of 3 ain't bad.
Tuesday, August 26, 2003
What do you wanna be when you grow up?
When I was little, I really wanted to be a postal worker (I called it a "mailman"). I thought it would be cool to deliver mail to people, kind of like giving them little gifts that would make them smile. Back then I didn't know about bills! So I would write letters and poems to my family members, put them in addressed envelopes, draw little stamps in the corner, and throw them in a tote bag. I'd carry the totebag around the house and slide envelopes under people's doors or give them the mail personally if they were around. That was a fun gig. But really I think I liked the writing of the mail even better than the delivering.
For a little while I thought I'd be a meteorologist. This was soon after I learned about the stars from a great teacher in elementary school. I'd go outside and try to find constellations. I lived far out in the country, so there was absolutely no light to interfere with the sky.
Then I went through a weird phase in middle school where I thought I could be a fashion designer. I loved to draw, and I saw in this magazine some sketches that a famous designer had done. I bought one of those big sketch pads and color pencils and started filling the pages with crazy looking clothes that I'm really glad never got made!
My dad used to tell me over and over again "You'll be a teacher." No matter what I said to him, he'd insist, "You're gonna be a teacher." I'd protest, call him crazy, tell him I couldn't imagine such an ordinary job. When I was about 15 he even literally bet me $100 I'd be a teacher.
I'm thinking about sending him a check this week. We shook hands on it.
When I was little, I really wanted to be a postal worker (I called it a "mailman"). I thought it would be cool to deliver mail to people, kind of like giving them little gifts that would make them smile. Back then I didn't know about bills! So I would write letters and poems to my family members, put them in addressed envelopes, draw little stamps in the corner, and throw them in a tote bag. I'd carry the totebag around the house and slide envelopes under people's doors or give them the mail personally if they were around. That was a fun gig. But really I think I liked the writing of the mail even better than the delivering.
For a little while I thought I'd be a meteorologist. This was soon after I learned about the stars from a great teacher in elementary school. I'd go outside and try to find constellations. I lived far out in the country, so there was absolutely no light to interfere with the sky.
Then I went through a weird phase in middle school where I thought I could be a fashion designer. I loved to draw, and I saw in this magazine some sketches that a famous designer had done. I bought one of those big sketch pads and color pencils and started filling the pages with crazy looking clothes that I'm really glad never got made!
My dad used to tell me over and over again "You'll be a teacher." No matter what I said to him, he'd insist, "You're gonna be a teacher." I'd protest, call him crazy, tell him I couldn't imagine such an ordinary job. When I was about 15 he even literally bet me $100 I'd be a teacher.
I'm thinking about sending him a check this week. We shook hands on it.
Monday, August 25, 2003
We're in business
Things are rolling. Meetings with the new Graduate Teaching Fellows have gone really well, and the syllabus for Spanish 1 and 2 is up and running and ready for primetime (we hope). I'm excited about meeting my new students on Wednesday, and I'm thrilled to be teaching Spanish 21 (Intro. to Spanish and Spanish American Literature) again. It's so much fun to open students up to the literature of other cultures and to lead them in critical analysis and personal engagement with literary texts written in another language. The best part is "converting" those students who doubt they can read and understand the texts (many students especially have mental blocks against poetry)...I love it when the "lightbulb" goes on. It's one of the things that makes teaching worth all the hard work.
On the personal front, my friend Bridgette is coming to town tomorrow for a quick visit. We won't have much time together, but it will be so fantastic to see her anyway. She has been living in Spain for about a year and a half and will be going back in a few days. I miss her every day!
Things are rolling. Meetings with the new Graduate Teaching Fellows have gone really well, and the syllabus for Spanish 1 and 2 is up and running and ready for primetime (we hope). I'm excited about meeting my new students on Wednesday, and I'm thrilled to be teaching Spanish 21 (Intro. to Spanish and Spanish American Literature) again. It's so much fun to open students up to the literature of other cultures and to lead them in critical analysis and personal engagement with literary texts written in another language. The best part is "converting" those students who doubt they can read and understand the texts (many students especially have mental blocks against poetry)...I love it when the "lightbulb" goes on. It's one of the things that makes teaching worth all the hard work.
On the personal front, my friend Bridgette is coming to town tomorrow for a quick visit. We won't have much time together, but it will be so fantastic to see her anyway. She has been living in Spain for about a year and a half and will be going back in a few days. I miss her every day!
Sunday, August 24, 2003
Favorite movies
Last night after Hizzle's fabulous dinner party, some of us were talking about favorite movies. I mentioned a few (Stand by Me, Dead Poets' Society), but I kept feeling like I was forgetting one. This afternoon it hit me: I forgot to mention Billy Elliot, one of my favorite movies of all time. I even bought the DVD, which is very rare for me. I don't usually watch movies more than once, but I've seen that one at least 10 times. I like the way gender construction is questioned in that movie and the way so many other important themes are juxtaposed in one story: not only gender, but also social class, family, death and aging, sexuality, and more. I also have a soft spot for coming-of-age tales and movies that feature kids, and Jamie Bell is just brilliant as Billy (his first acting role). The sound track is also very solid and includes The Clash's London Calling as the rocking background to an unforgettable montage. What a great movie.
Last night after Hizzle's fabulous dinner party, some of us were talking about favorite movies. I mentioned a few (Stand by Me, Dead Poets' Society), but I kept feeling like I was forgetting one. This afternoon it hit me: I forgot to mention Billy Elliot, one of my favorite movies of all time. I even bought the DVD, which is very rare for me. I don't usually watch movies more than once, but I've seen that one at least 10 times. I like the way gender construction is questioned in that movie and the way so many other important themes are juxtaposed in one story: not only gender, but also social class, family, death and aging, sexuality, and more. I also have a soft spot for coming-of-age tales and movies that feature kids, and Jamie Bell is just brilliant as Billy (his first acting role). The sound track is also very solid and includes The Clash's London Calling as the rocking background to an unforgettable montage. What a great movie.
Connections
I've been thinking a lot about connections, links, webs, communities. I find it strange but exhilarating that I have so many acquaintances now, even if I only know them through their words, their blogs, their emails, or through other friends. I've met a lot of interesting people through Jason, too, people whom I probably never would have connected with otherwise. And I am a better, more dynamic person for all these new connections. I have learned a lot from the people I have encountered. I have new questions and thoughts now, a product of contact with such diverse people.
That's all the pontificating I can afford today, unfortunately. Back to work.
I've been thinking a lot about connections, links, webs, communities. I find it strange but exhilarating that I have so many acquaintances now, even if I only know them through their words, their blogs, their emails, or through other friends. I've met a lot of interesting people through Jason, too, people whom I probably never would have connected with otherwise. And I am a better, more dynamic person for all these new connections. I have learned a lot from the people I have encountered. I have new questions and thoughts now, a product of contact with such diverse people.
That's all the pontificating I can afford today, unfortunately. Back to work.
Friday, August 22, 2003
Today I'm grateful for the little things
finding two Mr. Goodbar miniatures* in my desk drawer (still edible)
crushed ice
having a telephone in my office
gray pants that actually fit me
being pretty good at turning "nervous energy" into "positive energy"
hearing someone yell "Hi Dr. Sandlin!" as I cruised down the hall
10-cent folders at Staples
old friends who always come through in a pinch
Fridays
Fridays
Fridays
(*As a side note, Hershey's has the most pitiful website ever. It doesn't even mention Mr. Goodbar. An injustice. But an interesting tidbit, according to www.hersheysvending.com: "MR. GOODBAR chocolate bar is preferred by African-American adults (18-34 years old), skewing slightly male.")
finding two Mr. Goodbar miniatures* in my desk drawer (still edible)
crushed ice
having a telephone in my office
gray pants that actually fit me
being pretty good at turning "nervous energy" into "positive energy"
hearing someone yell "Hi Dr. Sandlin!" as I cruised down the hall
10-cent folders at Staples
old friends who always come through in a pinch
Fridays
Fridays
Fridays
(*As a side note, Hershey's has the most pitiful website ever. It doesn't even mention Mr. Goodbar. An injustice. But an interesting tidbit, according to www.hersheysvending.com: "MR. GOODBAR chocolate bar is preferred by African-American adults (18-34 years old), skewing slightly male.")
Thursday, August 21, 2003
I need a nap
Meetings I attended today = 3
Time I ate breakfast = 7:30
Time I ate lunch = 2:30
Caffeine-filled beverages consumed today = 5
Work-related emails I wrote today = at least 15, maybe more
Oh yeah. It has begun. More meetings tomorrow. More meetings Monday. Classes start Tuesday.
Meetings I attended today = 3
Time I ate breakfast = 7:30
Time I ate lunch = 2:30
Caffeine-filled beverages consumed today = 5
Work-related emails I wrote today = at least 15, maybe more
Oh yeah. It has begun. More meetings tomorrow. More meetings Monday. Classes start Tuesday.
Tuesday, August 19, 2003
What a crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy day
I faced Dey Hall, just as promised. I came, I saw, Dey Hall kicked my butt.
I walked in thinking I knew what I'd be teaching this semester, planning a simple day of organization and quiet reintegration. I walked out with a complete schedule change and a new job as a faculty course coordinator (in exchange for teaching one less class for the same salary, what they call "release time").
Luckily, and the best part of all this news, I will have two advanced (and very very capable) Graduate Teaching Fellows with me as my student co-coordinators. They are fantastic, and I've worked with them in this kind of capacity before. I trust them with my life. I just have to learn how to delegate, which I'm not so great at. But I think between the three of us, we'll do a bang up job.
I can't believe how one's life can change so quickly. My good deed (saying yes to this) made a lot of people (particularly my dept. chair) feel a lot better today. I'm a bit overwhelmed. I hope it turns out okay. Now, "orientation" becomes a lot more important; I can't just sit there. I'll be leading some of those meetings. Crazy, crazy, crazy day.
I faced Dey Hall, just as promised. I came, I saw, Dey Hall kicked my butt.
I walked in thinking I knew what I'd be teaching this semester, planning a simple day of organization and quiet reintegration. I walked out with a complete schedule change and a new job as a faculty course coordinator (in exchange for teaching one less class for the same salary, what they call "release time").
Luckily, and the best part of all this news, I will have two advanced (and very very capable) Graduate Teaching Fellows with me as my student co-coordinators. They are fantastic, and I've worked with them in this kind of capacity before. I trust them with my life. I just have to learn how to delegate, which I'm not so great at. But I think between the three of us, we'll do a bang up job.
I can't believe how one's life can change so quickly. My good deed (saying yes to this) made a lot of people (particularly my dept. chair) feel a lot better today. I'm a bit overwhelmed. I hope it turns out okay. Now, "orientation" becomes a lot more important; I can't just sit there. I'll be leading some of those meetings. Crazy, crazy, crazy day.
Monday, August 18, 2003
Last day of freedom
Well, here it is. My last day off the hook. Last day of summer vacation. Last day of my laziness. I have lesson planned, daydreamed about fall break (already), filled in my calendar for the next few weeks, worked out, and watched Punch-Drunk Love. A bizarre movie. Not really what I was in the mood for today, but on another day, I suspect that it would have been fantastic.
Tomorrow I face Dey Hall once again. I'm hoping I can slither in the back door and go unnoticed. Unlikely. The new grad students have probably arrived, along with the 12 new lecturers. The once-quiet hallways are going to be bustling with people.
On the good news front, the Blackboard folks say version 6.0 will be up and running tomorrow, which means I can finally create my course site. For me, this is unacceptably late. I would have been done with this thing in June if it had been up to me. But this time, procrastination was justified (necessary, even). I hope the upgrade has been worth the wait!
Well, here it is. My last day off the hook. Last day of summer vacation. Last day of my laziness. I have lesson planned, daydreamed about fall break (already), filled in my calendar for the next few weeks, worked out, and watched Punch-Drunk Love. A bizarre movie. Not really what I was in the mood for today, but on another day, I suspect that it would have been fantastic.
Tomorrow I face Dey Hall once again. I'm hoping I can slither in the back door and go unnoticed. Unlikely. The new grad students have probably arrived, along with the 12 new lecturers. The once-quiet hallways are going to be bustling with people.
On the good news front, the Blackboard folks say version 6.0 will be up and running tomorrow, which means I can finally create my course site. For me, this is unacceptably late. I would have been done with this thing in June if it had been up to me. But this time, procrastination was justified (necessary, even). I hope the upgrade has been worth the wait!
Sunday, August 17, 2003
To clear up the confusion
Apparently there's some discussion on Jane's Addiction about what I am. Let me clarify that these are true:
betsy is back
betsy is a lazy punk
betsy is quick to investigate anything new
betsy is a regular american bear
betsy is very much like a very young
betsy is not interested in hearing any more of his story
betsy is the horn section leader (swear to God, this was once true)
betsy is all ready
betsy is doing well and hasn't had anymore seizures
betsy is certainly my kind of person
betsy is a good role model for today's young girls
betsy is not dead
betsy is also silly and creative
betsy is her mother's living nightmare
betsy is surrounded by opportunity
betsy is uniquely qualified
betsy is back in town
betsy is into raw fish
betsy is that no one walks her talk as well as she does
I wish these were true (but alas, they are not):
betsy is actually at one of those clubs tonight
betsy is 9 years old
betsy is lounging around on the state bell outside of the state capitol in sacramento
betsy is wearing a valentine jumper over her pettiblouse
betsy is said to have had beautiful gardens for both her homes at oaklawn and mount mourne
betsy is an active member of the national weather association
betsy is very popular
betsy is pretty and popular
betsy is recognized throughout the world as a leader in big idea thinking and for creating results
betsy is a beauty fair
betsy is a very good cook
betsy is a professional singer
Apparently there's some discussion on Jane's Addiction about what I am. Let me clarify that these are true:
betsy is back
betsy is a lazy punk
betsy is quick to investigate anything new
betsy is a regular american bear
betsy is very much like a very young
betsy is not interested in hearing any more of his story
betsy is the horn section leader (swear to God, this was once true)
betsy is all ready
betsy is doing well and hasn't had anymore seizures
betsy is certainly my kind of person
betsy is a good role model for today's young girls
betsy is not dead
betsy is also silly and creative
betsy is her mother's living nightmare
betsy is surrounded by opportunity
betsy is uniquely qualified
betsy is back in town
betsy is into raw fish
betsy is that no one walks her talk as well as she does
I wish these were true (but alas, they are not):
betsy is actually at one of those clubs tonight
betsy is 9 years old
betsy is lounging around on the state bell outside of the state capitol in sacramento
betsy is wearing a valentine jumper over her pettiblouse
betsy is said to have had beautiful gardens for both her homes at oaklawn and mount mourne
betsy is an active member of the national weather association
betsy is very popular
betsy is pretty and popular
betsy is recognized throughout the world as a leader in big idea thinking and for creating results
betsy is a beauty fair
betsy is a very good cook
betsy is a professional singer
A few little tid-bits for your Sunday afternoon
1. Check out this awesome (to me, at least) website for theory geeks. And the toys are hysterical. I simply must have some of those lego theorists. And the trading cards! Oh yes!!
Those lego figures would look great with the current knick-knacks that make up my desk "shrine": Samurai Jack, a Frida Kahlo box, a ceramic bull from Spain, Reese's Pieces Matchbox car, Monty Python killer rabbit, a miniature vejigante from Puerto Rico, and a bunch of other little things that mean something to me.
2. Days 'til Springsteen (not Santa Claus) is comin' to town: 28
3. Rented Real Women Have Curves last night and really enjoyed it. An honest portrayal of generational struggles and differences within Latino families, and a great message about female body image, self esteem, and following one's dreams.
1. Check out this awesome (to me, at least) website for theory geeks. And the toys are hysterical. I simply must have some of those lego theorists. And the trading cards! Oh yes!!
Those lego figures would look great with the current knick-knacks that make up my desk "shrine": Samurai Jack, a Frida Kahlo box, a ceramic bull from Spain, Reese's Pieces Matchbox car, Monty Python killer rabbit, a miniature vejigante from Puerto Rico, and a bunch of other little things that mean something to me.
2. Days 'til Springsteen (not Santa Claus) is comin' to town: 28
3. Rented Real Women Have Curves last night and really enjoyed it. An honest portrayal of generational struggles and differences within Latino families, and a great message about female body image, self esteem, and following one's dreams.
Saturday, August 16, 2003
I must be crazy
In a mad search for a lost (and very necessary) notebook, I just did two monumental things:
1) I went through and re-organized my dissertation materials. This is huge, since I am only now able to stomach looking at that stuff again (6 months after I defended it). I had just sort of haphazardly shoved stuff into a big file box, telling myself "I'll get to it later." Well, later arrived today for some reason. In the mounds of notebooks filled with my barely recognizable thoughts (but in my handwriting, I swear!), I found list after list of books that I had come across in bibliographies, books I wanted to check out, books I promised myself I would go back to (someday). So I transferred a bunch of those books, call #'s and so forth, to a little notebook I'm going to start carrying around with me for whenever the research inspiration bug bites. I hope it bites often this fall.
I feel good. Accomplished. But tired.
2) I also decided to re-organize my bookshelves, since they were just huge piles of chaos. Sorry if it makes you cringe, all my librarian pals, but here was the process: I made huge stacks of books filed under my own (admittedly strange) classification system. The categories are arbitrary and often overlap:
Women's Studies/Feminism (samples: Dear Sisters, The World Split Open, This Bridge Called My Back)
General theory and cultural studies (highlights include several books by Judith Butler, readers on postmodernism, introductions to all sorts of things from literary theory to semiotics to Lacan)
Reference (including my most-used book, the MLA Handbook, a good thesaurus, A Handlist of Rhetorical Terms, encyclopedias of literary theory, etc.)
General Latin American lit (I have decent collections of the biggies like García Márquez, Borges, Neruda. Other favorites are Manuel Puig and Rosario Castellanos)
Hispanic Caribbean lit (my specialty-most of this is Puerto Rican lit, including Rosario Ferre, Mayra Santos Febres, Manuel Ramos Otero, and others)
US Latino lit (my biggest collection. Faves include Julia Alvarez, Junot Díaz, Miguel Algarín and other Nuyorican Poets Cafe poets. I also have a large selection of works by Ana Castillo )
Anthologies: everything from Latin American women authors, poetry in Spanish about AIDS, Latin American essays, and more
"fun books" (not directly related to my studies: Nick Hornby, Michael Cunningham, Virginia Woolf, Hemmingway, a small but growing collection of children's books...)
Why did I do this? Another way of procrastinating the real work that I need to do? Perhaps.
In a mad search for a lost (and very necessary) notebook, I just did two monumental things:
1) I went through and re-organized my dissertation materials. This is huge, since I am only now able to stomach looking at that stuff again (6 months after I defended it). I had just sort of haphazardly shoved stuff into a big file box, telling myself "I'll get to it later." Well, later arrived today for some reason. In the mounds of notebooks filled with my barely recognizable thoughts (but in my handwriting, I swear!), I found list after list of books that I had come across in bibliographies, books I wanted to check out, books I promised myself I would go back to (someday). So I transferred a bunch of those books, call #'s and so forth, to a little notebook I'm going to start carrying around with me for whenever the research inspiration bug bites. I hope it bites often this fall.
I feel good. Accomplished. But tired.
2) I also decided to re-organize my bookshelves, since they were just huge piles of chaos. Sorry if it makes you cringe, all my librarian pals, but here was the process: I made huge stacks of books filed under my own (admittedly strange) classification system. The categories are arbitrary and often overlap:
Women's Studies/Feminism (samples: Dear Sisters, The World Split Open, This Bridge Called My Back)
General theory and cultural studies (highlights include several books by Judith Butler, readers on postmodernism, introductions to all sorts of things from literary theory to semiotics to Lacan)
Reference (including my most-used book, the MLA Handbook, a good thesaurus, A Handlist of Rhetorical Terms, encyclopedias of literary theory, etc.)
General Latin American lit (I have decent collections of the biggies like García Márquez, Borges, Neruda. Other favorites are Manuel Puig and Rosario Castellanos)
Hispanic Caribbean lit (my specialty-most of this is Puerto Rican lit, including Rosario Ferre, Mayra Santos Febres, Manuel Ramos Otero, and others)
US Latino lit (my biggest collection. Faves include Julia Alvarez, Junot Díaz, Miguel Algarín and other Nuyorican Poets Cafe poets. I also have a large selection of works by Ana Castillo )
Anthologies: everything from Latin American women authors, poetry in Spanish about AIDS, Latin American essays, and more
"fun books" (not directly related to my studies: Nick Hornby, Michael Cunningham, Virginia Woolf, Hemmingway, a small but growing collection of children's books...)
Why did I do this? Another way of procrastinating the real work that I need to do? Perhaps.
Friday, August 15, 2003
Last night, where there was electricity
Hey folks, check out a first-hand account of the blackout: my good pal MAK from NYC. Luckily he seems unscathed.
Since Winston-Salem was not affected by the power outage, the Gin Blossoms show at Ziggy's raged. The place was packed. I don't know why, but there was an overwhelming preponderance of the under-21-year-old set. What could they possibly know about GB?? Do they even know who GB is? Jen and I got a good laugh at the fact that she, Jason, and I (along with 3 or 4 other "old farts") were the only ones singing. They did all their old tunes--Found Out about You, Hey Jealousy, and Follow You Down were my favorite performances. The frontman is a pretty good showman, so it was high-energy. Watch for a new album in the Spring!
The opening band, Atheneum (from Greensboro), was also excellent. I'm considering purchasing some of their stuff, I liked it so much. I'll definitely try to catch them the next time they're in the area.
On the way to the show, we decided that a good name for Jen's yet-to-be-created blog would be "Jen Blossom" (or perhaps the more suggestive "Jen's Blossom"). After much chuckling over that one, we chowed down at Arigato. Despite the fact that Jen couldn't stop singing that damn Styx song (domo arigato, Mr Roboto), it was a great time. The food was tasty, and good gracious was there lots of it. It was my first experience at a Japanese habachi-style place, and it was pretty fun. We seemed to have a better time than the 6-year-old that was at our table.
And now for the biggest pet peeve of the evening: CELL PHONES! I'm sick of 'em! There were two other families dining with us. At some point, all four adults used a cell phone during their dinners, including both members of one of the couples at once. Both the man and the woman were on the cell phone at the same time. And the madness didn't stop. People were trying to make calls at the show! "Hey mom, listen to this!" It was crazy. I'm sick of the cell phone madness.
Hey folks, check out a first-hand account of the blackout: my good pal MAK from NYC. Luckily he seems unscathed.
Since Winston-Salem was not affected by the power outage, the Gin Blossoms show at Ziggy's raged. The place was packed. I don't know why, but there was an overwhelming preponderance of the under-21-year-old set. What could they possibly know about GB?? Do they even know who GB is? Jen and I got a good laugh at the fact that she, Jason, and I (along with 3 or 4 other "old farts") were the only ones singing. They did all their old tunes--Found Out about You, Hey Jealousy, and Follow You Down were my favorite performances. The frontman is a pretty good showman, so it was high-energy. Watch for a new album in the Spring!
The opening band, Atheneum (from Greensboro), was also excellent. I'm considering purchasing some of their stuff, I liked it so much. I'll definitely try to catch them the next time they're in the area.
On the way to the show, we decided that a good name for Jen's yet-to-be-created blog would be "Jen Blossom" (or perhaps the more suggestive "Jen's Blossom"). After much chuckling over that one, we chowed down at Arigato. Despite the fact that Jen couldn't stop singing that damn Styx song (domo arigato, Mr Roboto), it was a great time. The food was tasty, and good gracious was there lots of it. It was my first experience at a Japanese habachi-style place, and it was pretty fun. We seemed to have a better time than the 6-year-old that was at our table.
And now for the biggest pet peeve of the evening: CELL PHONES! I'm sick of 'em! There were two other families dining with us. At some point, all four adults used a cell phone during their dinners, including both members of one of the couples at once. Both the man and the woman were on the cell phone at the same time. And the madness didn't stop. People were trying to make calls at the show! "Hey mom, listen to this!" It was crazy. I'm sick of the cell phone madness.
Thursday, August 14, 2003
I'm in the hot seat (ouch!)
Trish, inspired by the Green Fairy, has posed 5 interview questions for me. She's good (watch out Barbara Wa-Wa). I have my reasons for not having a comments system (see #3 below), so you can't leave me a comment if you want to be interviewed by me (ala Trish's rules). BUT, you can email me. I might even blog about some of your funniest answers. Or, if they're really clever, I might steal them and pretend they were my own. Without further ado, my questions:
1. If you could change one aspect of your personality, what would it be?
I only get to change ONE? Well, ok. It would be this: I would be more assertive. I would say "no" when people ask me to do things that I don't have time to do or don't want to do. I would give up this whole Superwoman complex that I seem to have. I hate disappointing people, and I put everyone before me, so I usually agree to do whatever people ask. A typical week: Sure I'll be on one more committee! I'd love to coordinate that class! I'd be more than happy to read your dissertation and give you lots and lots of thoughtful feedback! I have plenty of time to rewrite that 100-page document! And of course I'll visit your grandmother in the nursing home!
2. What do you value most in others that you meet?
I really do strive to find the positive in everybody and to value whatever it is that makes them unique and interesting. That said, lately I tend to be impressed by a few things: people who really look at me while I'm talking to them, people who seem totally interested in what I have to say. People who talk are easy to find; people who listen, really really listen, are few and far between. I don't trust people very quickly, and it takes a lot for me to feel comfortable enough to reveal my (real) self. So if you can do that, I will cherish you forever. I also value people who are genuine, down-to-earth, aware and critical of their own privilege. I am getting too old to tolerate fakers and snobs of any variety.
3. Why haven't you added comments to your blog yet ?
A-ha! Here it comes. I was thinking about it for a while. But I've decided not to. In about two weeks, I'm going to make my website (and, by extension, my blog) public to about 80 new faces. While I have absolutely no pretentious fantasies that all of my students would want to read my random thoughts and then comment on them, I think it's best to leave the commenting to me (for now, at least). Also, do I really want my students to see the banter that might ensue between myself and all you crazy bloggers out there? I can control my own thoughts; I can't control yours!!! You might frighten them!! :)
4. What's your view on body modification (tattoos, piercings, etc), and if you had to get a tattoo, what would it be and where would you put it?
My general view is: one's body is one's body. Whatever you do with it your business. Personally, though, I don't want piercings or a tattoo. I don't even have my ears pierced, folks! The main reasons are: 1) I hate needles, 2) I have a hard time justifying such "unnecessary" expenses. I got a little PO'ed when my younger sister, who always complains about having no money, came home with about 5 tattoos and just about everything that could be pierced, pierced. But that's another story for another day. If I had to get a tattoo?? Like a gun was to my head or the head of someone I love? I would probably choose a pretty, but meaningful, word in Spanish, like "poesia" (poetry), and put it on my back somewhere.
5. What wakes you up at four in the morning gnashing your teeth (stolen straight from Green Fairy, but it is a great question)?
Quite a bit, actually. That's another thing I would change about myself (see #1). I'm a worrier. Often, it has to do with my family in Kentucky and issues there that I can't control. On the personal front, though, if I have an interview or a presentation the next day, that'll do it too. While I love and feel comfortable teaching, and talking to my students, talking to peers and colleagues about my research and so forth still freaks me out.
Well, that's it. Thanks Trish! I had fun answering!!
Trish, inspired by the Green Fairy, has posed 5 interview questions for me. She's good (watch out Barbara Wa-Wa). I have my reasons for not having a comments system (see #3 below), so you can't leave me a comment if you want to be interviewed by me (ala Trish's rules). BUT, you can email me. I might even blog about some of your funniest answers. Or, if they're really clever, I might steal them and pretend they were my own. Without further ado, my questions:
1. If you could change one aspect of your personality, what would it be?
I only get to change ONE? Well, ok. It would be this: I would be more assertive. I would say "no" when people ask me to do things that I don't have time to do or don't want to do. I would give up this whole Superwoman complex that I seem to have. I hate disappointing people, and I put everyone before me, so I usually agree to do whatever people ask. A typical week: Sure I'll be on one more committee! I'd love to coordinate that class! I'd be more than happy to read your dissertation and give you lots and lots of thoughtful feedback! I have plenty of time to rewrite that 100-page document! And of course I'll visit your grandmother in the nursing home!
2. What do you value most in others that you meet?
I really do strive to find the positive in everybody and to value whatever it is that makes them unique and interesting. That said, lately I tend to be impressed by a few things: people who really look at me while I'm talking to them, people who seem totally interested in what I have to say. People who talk are easy to find; people who listen, really really listen, are few and far between. I don't trust people very quickly, and it takes a lot for me to feel comfortable enough to reveal my (real) self. So if you can do that, I will cherish you forever. I also value people who are genuine, down-to-earth, aware and critical of their own privilege. I am getting too old to tolerate fakers and snobs of any variety.
3. Why haven't you added comments to your blog yet ?
A-ha! Here it comes. I was thinking about it for a while. But I've decided not to. In about two weeks, I'm going to make my website (and, by extension, my blog) public to about 80 new faces. While I have absolutely no pretentious fantasies that all of my students would want to read my random thoughts and then comment on them, I think it's best to leave the commenting to me (for now, at least). Also, do I really want my students to see the banter that might ensue between myself and all you crazy bloggers out there? I can control my own thoughts; I can't control yours!!! You might frighten them!! :)
4. What's your view on body modification (tattoos, piercings, etc), and if you had to get a tattoo, what would it be and where would you put it?
My general view is: one's body is one's body. Whatever you do with it your business. Personally, though, I don't want piercings or a tattoo. I don't even have my ears pierced, folks! The main reasons are: 1) I hate needles, 2) I have a hard time justifying such "unnecessary" expenses. I got a little PO'ed when my younger sister, who always complains about having no money, came home with about 5 tattoos and just about everything that could be pierced, pierced. But that's another story for another day. If I had to get a tattoo?? Like a gun was to my head or the head of someone I love? I would probably choose a pretty, but meaningful, word in Spanish, like "poesia" (poetry), and put it on my back somewhere.
5. What wakes you up at four in the morning gnashing your teeth (stolen straight from Green Fairy, but it is a great question)?
Quite a bit, actually. That's another thing I would change about myself (see #1). I'm a worrier. Often, it has to do with my family in Kentucky and issues there that I can't control. On the personal front, though, if I have an interview or a presentation the next day, that'll do it too. While I love and feel comfortable teaching, and talking to my students, talking to peers and colleagues about my research and so forth still freaks me out.
Well, that's it. Thanks Trish! I had fun answering!!
Wednesday, August 13, 2003
Mama needs a brand new bag
Walking around campus today, a sort of trial run, I realized that my back is not going to tolerate any sort of normal over-the-shoulder bag or backpack. So...what'll it be? I'm thinking about this or maybe something less dorky. Cool, yes, but will it hold the papers I have to grade and my lesson plan notebook (oh yeah, that's not dorky)???
In my bag
right now:
1 Spanish textbook
1 book gotten through Interlibrary Loan (yay!)
7 file folders full of papers
1 college-rule, 1 subject notebook
1 yellow legal pad
2 packages of pocket tissue
1 package of name tags (don't ask)
various vis-a-vis overhead markers
1 calculator
1 bus schedule
1 package of post-it notes
1 orange highlighter
various pens and pencils
2 different kinds of chapstick (one SPF formula)
See what I mean? I need a pretty big, but comfortable, bag. Where is the perfect bag??
Walking around campus today, a sort of trial run, I realized that my back is not going to tolerate any sort of normal over-the-shoulder bag or backpack. So...what'll it be? I'm thinking about this or maybe something less dorky. Cool, yes, but will it hold the papers I have to grade and my lesson plan notebook (oh yeah, that's not dorky)???
In my bag
right now:1 Spanish textbook
1 book gotten through Interlibrary Loan (yay!)
7 file folders full of papers
1 college-rule, 1 subject notebook
1 yellow legal pad
2 packages of pocket tissue
1 package of name tags (don't ask)
various vis-a-vis overhead markers
1 calculator
1 bus schedule
1 package of post-it notes
1 orange highlighter
various pens and pencils
2 different kinds of chapstick (one SPF formula)
See what I mean? I need a pretty big, but comfortable, bag. Where is the perfect bag??
Tuesday, August 12, 2003
Learning styles and multiple intelligences (or: I am what I am)
Spent the afternoon hanging out with my friend Karen. We have an annual ritual: we get together and do marathon lesson planning and preparation sessions for the fast-approaching fall. She is a Spanish teacher at Durham Academy now. Somehow being with someone else makes the work go a bit faster and seem a bit more fun.
But, of course, out of the four hours we spent together, maybe only 2 were used for working. One was for lunching and gabbing. She just got back from an insane-sounding hiking trip in Montana with the Sierra Club: 60 miles in 7 days. I am so utterly impressed.
The other hour of our afternoon, we accidentally got absorbed into an innocent-looking book she had brought with her: So Each May Learn: Integrating Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligences, edited by Harvey F. Silver (et al). She's interested in maximizing students' potential by tapping into different learning styles and so forth. She gives her students mints on test day, lets them sit with their chairs facing any which way they choose, and has all kinds of tactile, visual, and aural realia. They create videos, songs, cool stuff like that. She's an excellent teacher.
So anyway...we're sitting there and she notices that there are tons of little tests and surveys in the book. Well, being all introspective, who am I to refuse?? So I answered questionnaires. I tried my best to answer honestly, although sometimes I could tell where the question was leading me and what I was "supposed" to say to skew the results to my liking. I plotted my points. The results? I am, apparently, in the NF category (Intuitive/Feeling). As for learning styles, I strongly prefer to learn through verbal/linguistic, spatial, and musical methods. My lowest scores were logical/mathematical (if you know me, you're not surprised!), bodily-kinesthetic (again, not surprised), and naturalist. Somewhere in the middle, nearly tied, were interpersonal and intrapersonal learning. Apparently, I learn best if I can create and sing a song about feelings (my own or others') while looking at a road map.
Spent the afternoon hanging out with my friend Karen. We have an annual ritual: we get together and do marathon lesson planning and preparation sessions for the fast-approaching fall. She is a Spanish teacher at Durham Academy now. Somehow being with someone else makes the work go a bit faster and seem a bit more fun.
But, of course, out of the four hours we spent together, maybe only 2 were used for working. One was for lunching and gabbing. She just got back from an insane-sounding hiking trip in Montana with the Sierra Club: 60 miles in 7 days. I am so utterly impressed.
The other hour of our afternoon, we accidentally got absorbed into an innocent-looking book she had brought with her: So Each May Learn: Integrating Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligences, edited by Harvey F. Silver (et al). She's interested in maximizing students' potential by tapping into different learning styles and so forth. She gives her students mints on test day, lets them sit with their chairs facing any which way they choose, and has all kinds of tactile, visual, and aural realia. They create videos, songs, cool stuff like that. She's an excellent teacher.
So anyway...we're sitting there and she notices that there are tons of little tests and surveys in the book. Well, being all introspective, who am I to refuse?? So I answered questionnaires. I tried my best to answer honestly, although sometimes I could tell where the question was leading me and what I was "supposed" to say to skew the results to my liking. I plotted my points. The results? I am, apparently, in the NF category (Intuitive/Feeling). As for learning styles, I strongly prefer to learn through verbal/linguistic, spatial, and musical methods. My lowest scores were logical/mathematical (if you know me, you're not surprised!), bodily-kinesthetic (again, not surprised), and naturalist. Somewhere in the middle, nearly tied, were interpersonal and intrapersonal learning. Apparently, I learn best if I can create and sing a song about feelings (my own or others') while looking at a road map.
Can you be in love with a steamer?
It's true love. One of my best purchases in months. Who needs an ironing board? Who needs an iron? Give me some hot water, and I will show you some wrinkle-free garments, baby!
In other household news, our foster child the shamrock plant seems to be making a glorious resurgence. Thankfully, since the person who gave it to us to take care of, Bridgette, is coming back from Spain for a visit in just a few short weeks. I told her I have a black thumb, but she wouldn't listen!
It's true love. One of my best purchases in months. Who needs an ironing board? Who needs an iron? Give me some hot water, and I will show you some wrinkle-free garments, baby!
In other household news, our foster child the shamrock plant seems to be making a glorious resurgence. Thankfully, since the person who gave it to us to take care of, Bridgette, is coming back from Spain for a visit in just a few short weeks. I told her I have a black thumb, but she wouldn't listen!
Monday, August 11, 2003
September 2 is the release date for Light of Day: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen, a wacky-looking 2 CD set that features 37 artists, including Elvis Costello doing "Brilliant Disguise." I don't usually dig tribute albums too much (do we really need a hillbilly tribute to Kiss??), but since the proceeds benefit two charities (the Parkinson's Disease Foundation and the Kristen Ann Carr fund for sarcoma), I might have to give it a listen.
Days 'til Springsteen hits Chapel Hill: 34
Days 'til Springsteen hits Chapel Hill: 34
Not quite ready for primetime
Today I'm trying to force myself to go into the office. I need to pick up some files, check my mail, pop into the library, buy a planner, and so many other little responsible errand-type things. I have tried to go twice now, but I can't seem to physically get myself out the door. I worry that this little, innocent visit to the office signals the end of summer. When I get those files, preparation will have to begin in earnest for the upcoming semester. It's deer-in-headlights time. Can it really be August 11??
Today I'm trying to force myself to go into the office. I need to pick up some files, check my mail, pop into the library, buy a planner, and so many other little responsible errand-type things. I have tried to go twice now, but I can't seem to physically get myself out the door. I worry that this little, innocent visit to the office signals the end of summer. When I get those files, preparation will have to begin in earnest for the upcoming semester. It's deer-in-headlights time. Can it really be August 11??
Sunday, August 10, 2003
Oh dear chaos, why do you swirl around me so?
Dear chaos: Please find some other poor slob to pick on. Thank you. Betsy
p.s. If you could leave my family alone for a while, that would be pretty cool too.
Dear chaos: Please find some other poor slob to pick on. Thank you. Betsy
p.s. If you could leave my family alone for a while, that would be pretty cool too.
Saturday, August 09, 2003
Taking the ego out of my blog-o
Apparently, I'm getting notorious for just blogging about myself. Well, fasten your seatbelts, inhabitants and visitors to the blogsphere. Today I write not about myself, but about my brother. Did you know that I have a brother? I miss him. (oops, there I go writing about myself again)
He is older, more stubborn, more logical (than I am...damn, there I go again). He used to catalog his cassette tapes and books in alphabetical order. He had a huge collection of Matchbox cars that were in some sort of very specific order (make/model? chromatic?). He has the best sense of direction and an uncanny connection to nature; he used to create his own trails in the acres and acres of land that papa (our grandfather) owned and he never get lost in the deep, dark woods. He's an incredible driver...he was tooling around in a tractor by the time he was 7, papa's pickup truck not long after that, and he taught himself the stick shift when he was still too young for a learner's permit. We all thought he would grow up to be a schoolbus driver (or maybe a racecar driver, we couldn't decide).
Now he has diabetes, a sleeping disorder, two children, two step-children, a mortgage, and a desk job. Where has the time gone?
Apparently, I'm getting notorious for just blogging about myself. Well, fasten your seatbelts, inhabitants and visitors to the blogsphere. Today I write not about myself, but about my brother. Did you know that I have a brother? I miss him. (oops, there I go writing about myself again)
He is older, more stubborn, more logical (than I am...damn, there I go again). He used to catalog his cassette tapes and books in alphabetical order. He had a huge collection of Matchbox cars that were in some sort of very specific order (make/model? chromatic?). He has the best sense of direction and an uncanny connection to nature; he used to create his own trails in the acres and acres of land that papa (our grandfather) owned and he never get lost in the deep, dark woods. He's an incredible driver...he was tooling around in a tractor by the time he was 7, papa's pickup truck not long after that, and he taught himself the stick shift when he was still too young for a learner's permit. We all thought he would grow up to be a schoolbus driver (or maybe a racecar driver, we couldn't decide).
Now he has diabetes, a sleeping disorder, two children, two step-children, a mortgage, and a desk job. Where has the time gone?
Friday, August 08, 2003
Frozen waffles are tasty
Went to sleep at 1:00 am, just as it started raining. Woke up to more rain, some thunder, darkness. It's late to still be in pajamas, popping in the Eggo waffles, and pouring my second cup of coffee.
Just told our friend Jen that we'll see The Gin Blossoms in Winston-Salem with her at Ziggy's next week. Ah, early 90's music. "Alternative" in the sense that it wasn't hair metal! But not the crunch and angst of grunge either. Radio friendly, but thoughtful. Lots of us who went to undergrad during that time have a soft spot for these bands: TGB
Soul Asylum
Spin Doctors
Blind Melon
Toad the Wet Sprocket
10,000 Maniacs (with Natalie Merchant, of course!)
Right now we're listening to TGB's New Miserable Experience. Such great stuff.
The crazy thing is that these bands are getting back together in huge waves. Why is this? Are we nostalgic for the heady days of the early 90s? Are the band members nostalgic? Is it, as Jason theorizes, that our generation can now pay for concert tickets, and these bands are cashing in? Are we craving the thoughtful lyrics and smoother, more organic sounds that recent popular music has been lacking?
Went to sleep at 1:00 am, just as it started raining. Woke up to more rain, some thunder, darkness. It's late to still be in pajamas, popping in the Eggo waffles, and pouring my second cup of coffee.
Just told our friend Jen that we'll see The Gin Blossoms in Winston-Salem with her at Ziggy's next week. Ah, early 90's music. "Alternative" in the sense that it wasn't hair metal! But not the crunch and angst of grunge either. Radio friendly, but thoughtful. Lots of us who went to undergrad during that time have a soft spot for these bands: TGB
Soul Asylum
Spin Doctors
Blind Melon
Toad the Wet Sprocket
10,000 Maniacs (with Natalie Merchant, of course!)
Right now we're listening to TGB's New Miserable Experience. Such great stuff.
The crazy thing is that these bands are getting back together in huge waves. Why is this? Are we nostalgic for the heady days of the early 90s? Are the band members nostalgic? Is it, as Jason theorizes, that our generation can now pay for concert tickets, and these bands are cashing in? Are we craving the thoughtful lyrics and smoother, more organic sounds that recent popular music has been lacking?
Thursday, August 07, 2003
About Sandlin
Today I feel old. My lower back hurts a lot lately. Too much sitting at the computer with my terrible posture. I also feel tired. I'm in the weeks between summer teaching and fall teaching, and the days are flying by. As usual, I'm not getting enough done. Jason and I just watched "About Schmidt" last night. A part of me feels like Schmidt today. Why did I see that as a very melancholy movie, a movie that made me sad and contemplative, while Jason saw it as funny and sweet? It fascinates me to hear different interpretations of the same "text"--be it a movie, a book, or whatever. Guess that's why I do what I do for a living, the lit crit part anyway.
Today I feel old. My lower back hurts a lot lately. Too much sitting at the computer with my terrible posture. I also feel tired. I'm in the weeks between summer teaching and fall teaching, and the days are flying by. As usual, I'm not getting enough done. Jason and I just watched "About Schmidt" last night. A part of me feels like Schmidt today. Why did I see that as a very melancholy movie, a movie that made me sad and contemplative, while Jason saw it as funny and sweet? It fascinates me to hear different interpretations of the same "text"--be it a movie, a book, or whatever. Guess that's why I do what I do for a living, the lit crit part anyway.
Tuesday, August 05, 2003
Some great things are happening. One of my best friends, Chrysty, got a job at our alma mater, teaching Spanish. She's moving back to Athens, OH, the place where we met and bonded so quickly and so profoundly. I'm incredibly happy for her, and she seems so excited.
I often say that Athens is the place where Jason and I "grew up." We became an us there, learned how to manage a household, found out what hard work grad school is, and made some of the best friends we've ever had. Jason hasn't been back in about seven years, sadly, but we're finally headed back in September for a reunion. We can hardly wait.
I got to see my other best friend, Tim, during a quick stop at the Huntington Mall in West Virginia on the way back to North Carolina Sunday. Tim and I joke that we must have come from the same mama. When we met it was like a platonic version of "love at first sight." I still remember the day, the first conversation.
He and Chrysty are now going to be living relatively close to each other in Ohio, a simple drive apart that makes a daytrip easy. Meanwhile I am still here in North Carolina, at least 8 hours away from them. Sometimes we talk about a 90210-style fantasy in which we all actually live in the same zip code and can pop over for coffee any old time we want. In this fantasy, we make dinner together at least once a week and run our errands together. But the academic life just can't be that way. Best friends are strung out all over the country, and the idea of "settling down" seems quite foreign.
I often say that Athens is the place where Jason and I "grew up." We became an us there, learned how to manage a household, found out what hard work grad school is, and made some of the best friends we've ever had. Jason hasn't been back in about seven years, sadly, but we're finally headed back in September for a reunion. We can hardly wait.
I got to see my other best friend, Tim, during a quick stop at the Huntington Mall in West Virginia on the way back to North Carolina Sunday. Tim and I joke that we must have come from the same mama. When we met it was like a platonic version of "love at first sight." I still remember the day, the first conversation.
He and Chrysty are now going to be living relatively close to each other in Ohio, a simple drive apart that makes a daytrip easy. Meanwhile I am still here in North Carolina, at least 8 hours away from them. Sometimes we talk about a 90210-style fantasy in which we all actually live in the same zip code and can pop over for coffee any old time we want. In this fantasy, we make dinner together at least once a week and run our errands together. But the academic life just can't be that way. Best friends are strung out all over the country, and the idea of "settling down" seems quite foreign.
Monday, August 04, 2003
Just another day
Picked up my first paycheck as a lecturer, and it is smaller than what I made as a grad student (I had a knack for stitching together lots of small jobs and did pretty well for myself as a consequence!). A bit of a bummer, really. It's not a whole lot smaller, but smaller. And that seems bizarre. I get the degree and I bring home less money. Of course, I'm not really making less because some is getting put into a retirement plan. But still, the initial shock of the small figure has been a bit disturbing.
One other bit of interesting news: as of today, the dissertation is all bound! It can now be found on the shelves of the Dept. of Romance Languages, and probably Davis library, although I haven't checked it. Awesome to see it bound and official. Real.
Picked up my first paycheck as a lecturer, and it is smaller than what I made as a grad student (I had a knack for stitching together lots of small jobs and did pretty well for myself as a consequence!). A bit of a bummer, really. It's not a whole lot smaller, but smaller. And that seems bizarre. I get the degree and I bring home less money. Of course, I'm not really making less because some is getting put into a retirement plan. But still, the initial shock of the small figure has been a bit disturbing.
One other bit of interesting news: as of today, the dissertation is all bound! It can now be found on the shelves of the Dept. of Romance Languages, and probably Davis library, although I haven't checked it. Awesome to see it bound and official. Real.
Saturday, August 02, 2003
Happiness is...
Happiness is Jason's family, cozy, warm, safe, and fun. Happiness is hearing them banter in the living room after riding for two hours all crammed into their SUV to go to a Cincinnati Reds game. Happiness is a 1:15 start, a 5-4 win, and a beautiful new ballpark on a semi-cloudy day (not too hot, but no rain). Happiness is a small town restaurant where the calzones and sauce are homemade and fresh, the ice is crushed, and the clientele is much more interesting than the decor. Happiness is a gorgeous country drive that goes and goes just until you hit a city, the skyline popping up like magic just beyond the farmland. Happiness is this, this weekend that my body and mind were begging for persistently, but silently. I miss my bed, my cats, my friends, my privacy, but I also don't want to go home.
Happiness is Jason's family, cozy, warm, safe, and fun. Happiness is hearing them banter in the living room after riding for two hours all crammed into their SUV to go to a Cincinnati Reds game. Happiness is a 1:15 start, a 5-4 win, and a beautiful new ballpark on a semi-cloudy day (not too hot, but no rain). Happiness is a small town restaurant where the calzones and sauce are homemade and fresh, the ice is crushed, and the clientele is much more interesting than the decor. Happiness is a gorgeous country drive that goes and goes just until you hit a city, the skyline popping up like magic just beyond the farmland. Happiness is this, this weekend that my body and mind were begging for persistently, but silently. I miss my bed, my cats, my friends, my privacy, but I also don't want to go home.