Dialogue

Long time no update

2011-06-07T22:40:00.006-04:00

And that's because our house has been filled with a lot of this type of fun:and...this too...and our days have been busy going places like here:So I haven't been blogging. Just getting used to being a mom of two and being home instead of the office. I have a post planned to talk about the wee one's birth at home... want it to be crafted well so I can send it to our birth instructor - but it is

what is Wikipedia?

2011-02-24T11:01:00.003-05:00

I was reading over herea post called Old English Anachronism On the Wikipedia and in a couple of comments, in discussing the off/odd orthography used, posters were writing such things as"I think the use of yogh at Wikipedia (and various other sites, in fact)..""The anachronism at the Old English Wikipǽdia is inexcusable."Interesting to think of Wikipedia as a site, as in a location or locale in

Finding God in this

2011-02-23T11:01:00.003-05:00

I met with students a couple of weeks ago. I made these meetings mandatory and I think I ended up meeting with most of my students. I really don't think I could have imagined learning as much as I did with these meetings. I learned a lot about highschool and university curricula. I like to learn, especially about teaching, even if it takes five days of back to back meetings. I feel like I'm a

Conferencing

2011-02-14T22:10:00.003-05:00

My proposal was accepted. But... they want me to be a part of a Discussion session of some sort. We present a 3-minute synopsis of our work, and then we (6 people) Discuss for an hour. I don't really know what this means exactly. But I'll take it.

Alright, Monday

2011-02-14T11:14:00.004-05:00

I'm drafting another post about...well, you'll see. But, for now I'm too busy to work on that. I am serving my students with a quiz on Frankenstein today and haven't prepped the test yet and I also have to grade one helluvalota essay outlines before 4. I've been in the office, but just gearing up to do this stuff. Here goes nothing.eta: got frankenstein test written.. just need to head over and

Advisor questions

2011-02-05T07:36:00.003-05:00

My advisor still hasn't gotten my proposal back to me with comments. Monday will be two weeks since I sent it. Wednesday will be two weeks since he acknowledged receiving it. When I meet with him, I always get good feedback and constructive advice. However, I feel like this is a long time to wait for 10 pages double spaced plus a bibliography.I sent him a proposal which is due today last night on

trying out

2011-02-04T17:27:00.000-05:00

if you're testing out an idea from your dissertation at a conference, it makes sense to be up front about it while you're there. But does it make sense to refer to your dissertation outside the biographical blurb of a proposal?

why do I do this?

2011-02-04T17:02:00.003-05:00

Deadline for a conference, tomorrow. I had already told myself I wouldn't worry about it when I first saw the poster.I see it again today and decide since my possible external reader will be there, it might be a good idea to attend. I start writing it today after seeing a fellow grad student defend her dissertation and become a Doctor. I have 51 too many words, and the argument is spotty. It's

waiting is the hardest part

2011-01-28T13:54:00.002-05:00

I sent in the proposal on Monday morning. I bump into him on my way to teach at 4 asking if he received it, he shakes his head. Nope, nothing in the inbox. I say I'll resend after class. I do. Wednesday comes by, and I send it yet again, asking if the attachment worked the second time. He responds to a message that had been sent to his spam folder with my proposal. Spam filtering at our school is

I'll send it.. soon

2011-01-24T10:35:00.002-05:00

So, I finished my proposal and now I'm sitting here knitting my daughter a scarf. I have to send the draft to my advisor but I want to look it over once more before I do but I'm kind of afraid of what I'll find with my medium to fine toothed comb.

Draft of Proposal

2011-01-23T17:37:00.001-05:00

Done.

wall

2011-01-22T19:57:00.005-05:00

I've hit a wall. For the last half an hour or so (ok, if I'm honest an hour), I've been unable to come up with anything productive for the proposal. On one hand, maybe I'm done for now. On the other hand, it doesn't look like much of an outline for the dissertation yet and I really think I need to formulate it as such. Chapter by chapter outlines. Problem is, all my connections have gone from a

Why are things like this a big deal?

2011-01-22T15:30:00.003-05:00

Maybe I'm just lazy and disorganized, but I feel like sometimes things are a bigger deal for folks than they need to be. Got notice that some books came in for me. Walked to library from office. Got there, picked up and checked out books. Examined books over a half-decaf coffee and a snack. Wrote some notes, but decided I needed the bag full of them. Also, then realized I had a few I needed from

Always already

2011-01-22T13:23:00.004-05:00

So, here is a post about dissertation proposal stuff. I'm finding lots of great connections between one idea and another and another. But, really it's feeling like I'm starting the dissertation writing process. Not much like I'm starting my proposal. In fact, I feel like my proposal is somehow always already written before I sit to write and think.. um, shouldn't my advisor know this? Why can't I

progress

2011-01-21T09:30:00.002-05:00

Worked most of the day yesterday. Have no official words, but made lots of substantiated connections, from recent, relevant linguists and theorists. Wind is howling today. Peanut is at daycare, doc's appointments and Husband is working soon. Hoping to get some things done soon.

a little hope

2011-01-20T10:03:00.002-05:00

My advisor is cracking down on me

2011-01-19T17:33:00.003-05:00

So, today I popped in to see my advisor even though I have nothing (nothing more than a few pages) to give him. I told him I have a few pages, would he like to see them now or when I have something more coherent? He said sooner the better for this draft. I then tell him reason 2 for popping in: someone could easily call him since I put his name on a letter and CV for a job I'm applying for. I

construction

2011-01-17T13:41:00.001-05:00

As you can see, the blog is under construction. Might get to it this week. I seem to be on top of teaching things and feeling energetic. :)

diapers....dissertation....diapers...

2011-01-14T12:39:00.003-05:00

I mostly used disposables with Peanut, but with new baby on the way, Husband and I have decided to cloth diaper pretty much exclusively. I searched the internet for a way to do it cheaply and easily and was going to go entirely with prefolds. In fact, I spent precious office dissertation time scouring the web for deals and best practices and testimonies. But then out of nowhere, a Mom Friend from

What. A. Semester.

2010-12-07T13:58:00.002-05:00

So, yesterday marked my last class of the semester. Now all I have is a pile of exams to correct, grades to tabulate, and bam. Done.We moved so I could teach this class. Shortly after the move, actually at a gas station while driving across the country, we found out we were expecting a honeymoon baby in early May. And shortly after this the throwing up and sleeping started. Which meant that my

just putting it out there

2010-10-18T11:05:00.002-04:00

I don't understand this hooping craze.At first I thought they (who happen to always be in a sort of young, old things are new again, doula-loving crowd) were talking about quilting. Shortly after I realized that they (who turned out to be more of a roller-derby, dred-loving, power-to-women crowd) likely weren't into quilting as much as it was about social change. In fun ways. I think I love them.

Visiting family once married

2010-08-20T14:23:00.002-04:00

I hope that I can get the organization of the course and the first few lectures done ASAP. Syllabus, I'm hoping to get it done tonight, actually. While driving to visit my family. My grandfather is not well. He's 89, and we just found out he has cancer. He's at peace about everything, and it's operable, but it was our deciding factor in going back. I've always been close to my grandparents on

Bookstore

2010-08-20T14:11:00.002-04:00

So, I ordered my books really late.I know that the "deadlines" are flexible and all. But I mean, folks I'm talking like, 3 months late. Apparently, not too late. I was able to order the textbooks for the class - there are three. One main text book, and two anthology type things for readings. I have 27 students enrolled right now. I lost one. It was 28. [aside: I know I shouldn't care about this,

Righteous

2010-08-20T12:18:00.003-04:00

The word righteous has a bad rap.Mostly, because of its association with the word self-righteous. That said, I think that really a person should strive to be a righteous person. Husband recently resigned from his position so that we could move for my position. His work partner, in tears on hearing the news, among other things, called him a "righteous man." I believe she's right. He is a righteous

regarding the student in the other message

2010-08-20T12:13:00.001-04:00

I was nice. I try to be a hardass but I'm always nice in the end. SIGH.Working on my tough face for the fall.

sympathy or no?

2010-08-16T15:21:00.002-04:00

Group assignment. You pass in your individual component, and one of the team members passes in the group's project. The individual component is worth something like 15-20% toward your final grade.The group is worth 5% toward your grade. Got a group assignment. 4/5 members sent me their individuals. 1 did not, yet the student's name is on the group's project. I email student to question this, did

waxing and waning

2010-08-16T12:38:00.004-04:00

I don't remember when summer started this year, but I can see now where it's ending. We decided today that we're moving one week from tomorrow. It makes me want to go to the beach with my family as much as possible. It makes me want to set up a tent at a campground until we absolutely have to leave the province. So many years I worked in air conditioned offices begging for the natural light of

grading

2010-08-12T13:31:00.000-04:00

I miss my family

boring blog, I know

2010-08-12T10:49:00.001-04:00

I feel the need to blog a little better. I just don't know when that will happen.

end of term.. beginning of term

2010-08-11T21:28:00.002-04:00

grade remaining 30% of assignmentsresubmit for the 3rd time, the rubrics for previous assignment because the system suckssubmit grades for last assignment, individually for each student along with rubrics so as not to eff it upsubmit final grades to registrarorder textbook make syllabussubmit syllabusapply for financial aidgo to friend's weddingspend fortune on trip to find housing and come back

Dear Jerk

2010-08-11T15:18:00.005-04:00

poof

Mrs.

2010-08-09T14:25:00.002-04:00

Got married.Had lovely brunch to celebrate.Honemooned.Came back to a sick baby, who's recovering nicely.Panicked about course syllabus not being done. And not having last assignment and exams graded.Emptied course inbox.Resubmitted some graded assignments.Got sitter for grading marathon tomorrow for final assignment for course.Exams taken care of by course instructor as a wedding gift.more still.

3 days

2010-07-26T01:13:00.002-04:00

These last few have been some of the most dynamic of my life. I can only see that increasing over the next few days.Marriage license tomorrow.

novena for marriage

2010-07-20T14:09:00.003-04:00

I'm looking for a good novena to pray in the 9 days leading up to the wedding... suggestions?St. AnneSt. Joseph and St. JosephOur Mother of Perpetual HelpSt. Gianna

weddings, time, eternity

2010-07-06T12:55:00.004-04:00

My days are filled with too many details scattered over the course of the day. The wedding preparation is chaotic, and really only because of my personal hang-ups: I want a photographer. I want a pretty cake. I want pretty flowers. I wanted the bridesmaids to match. I wanted them to wear blue.Sure, they seem like small favours - basic, but when you're a young family starting out with a mortgage

good gracious

2010-07-02T13:27:00.002-04:00

I'm back on facebook after a long hiatus. I can't wait to be gone again. I feel so yucky being back. All of a sudden there's this enormous time suck. Just resetting my privacy settings and getting rid of application crap and also doing a little bit of a friend purge, too. Setting up some profile blocks.Oy. It's hard work!And, I haven't even begun the wedding stuff I went on there to do. Getting

2010-06-17T20:49:00.003-04:00

Send in bursary application for this semesterGet caught up in the course I'm currently teaching Marking meetingPlan and execute baby showerPartially move across the country so that I canApply for child care subsidy in a new provinceApply for child care bursaryMeet to convince child care subsidy folks that my job is a real jobFind other means to finance child careUnpack the rest of my thingsPlan

interesting poems by interesting poets

2010-06-16T21:54:00.001-04:00

I don't need legs anymore,Let them turn into a fish's tail!I'm swimming and the coolness is delightful,The far-off bridge grows dimly white.I don't need a submissive soul,Let it turn into smoke, a wisp of smokeOf tender, light blueFlying over the blackened quay.See how deeply I dive,Clutching seaweed in my hands,No one's words will I repeatAnd on one's longing will capture me...But you, my

I don't feel I'm exaggerating when I say

2010-06-14T14:21:00.001-04:00

Finding quality, affordable, suitable daycare close to one's home is harder than passing a comprehensive phd exam.

ABD

2010-06-10T20:15:00.001-04:00

I passed. :)

again with the list

2010-06-09T09:46:00.005-04:00

Send in bursary application for this semesterGet caught up in the course I'm currently teaching Marking meetingPlan and execute baby showerPartially move across the country so that I canApply for child care subsidy in a new provinceApply for child care bursaryMeet to convince child care subsidy folks that my job is a real jobUnpack the rest of my thingsPlan weddingInvite peopleGet marriedGet

in praise of garbage trucks

2010-06-09T08:06:00.004-04:00

I don't know what it is but this morning I am so glad to see the garbage truck take away our garbage. There's nothing particularly heinous in the trash today. But, I'm in a new city in a new house and I didn't always know when garbage day was. Last night we got the garbage outside and while the house isn't spotless, there isn't a bag hanging around outside by the bbq cause I missed garbage day. I

2010-06-08T20:10:00.002-04:00

Send in bursary application for this semester Get caught up in the course I'm currently teaching Plan and execute baby shower Partially move across the country so that I canPlan weddingInvite peopleGet marriedApply for child care subsidy in a new provinceWrite article that I said I wouldn't write but then I changed my mindPlan, Read, and Write lectures and things for new course I'm teaching in

2010-06-04T08:52:00.002-04:00

Send in bursary application for this semesterGet caught up in the course I'm currently teaching Plan and execute baby showerPartially move across the country so that I canPlan wedding and get married andApply for child care subsidy in a new provinceWrite article that I said I wouldn't write but then I changed my mindPlan, Read, and Write lectures and things for new course I'm teaching in the

forgot to add

2010-06-01T21:06:00.001-04:00

get child on waiting list for day careapply for sessional position

Comp

2010-05-31T18:46:00.002-04:00

Well, I wrote. I sat and I answered three questions and I think I got one looking good enough. The other two I'm not sure about but there's enough information to pass, I believe.Will know within two weeks how I did. Next up: Send in bursary application for this semesterGet caught up in the course I'm currently teachingPlan and execute baby showerPartially move across the country so that I canPlan

comp day

2010-05-28T08:10:00.001-04:00

seriously concerned.test is in a few hours... cramming.will let you know how it goes.

litany of saints for exam prep

2010-05-19T17:26:00.001-04:00

Compiling a list of saints who might intercede for me ....Does this count as procrastination?

the texts came in

2010-05-17T20:45:00.001-04:00

They came in on Saturday -- if I'd had to wait until today I would have asked to postpone. The secretary had told me that all the other students had received their texts on Friday and I was beginning to get mad.Now, I just have to get working.

Et si sensus deficit, Ad firmandum cor sincerum Sola fides sufficit.

2010-05-14T22:31:00.006-04:00

Faith, for all defects supplyingwhere the feeble senses fail.I'm not good with Latin, so I got that translation, which is allegedly from JPII. More information on translation of St. Thomas's Pange Lingua go here here.

examination of conscience

2010-05-14T21:26:00.002-04:00

I write my comp in 2 weeks time. My plan for studying at this stage was to prepare mock tests and write them and hope that my topics could and would be covered on the exam.The reading list was 3 parts:Core List subcategory Asubcategory BTwo weeks before the exam candidates receive 3 texts.And...the test is structured like this:An in-depth analysis of one of Text 1, text 2 or text 3-- using texts

the situation

2010-05-10T11:15:00.003-04:00

I don't want to get into too many personal details about the situation that FH, Peanut and I are living -- it involves a lot of explanation about housing arrangments, etc. But, it's been both hard and phenomenal for all of us. I'm studying (ok, will be studying) my ass off for my test, and it means that I'm missing my family. The Sweetpea started at a new daycare today, and while I haven't been

corny corner

2010-05-08T12:15:00.003-04:00

loving the girl who made me a mom and the man who will make me a wife.I was going to post this to twitter and thought it was too cheesy.:)I understand if you feel the need to puke all over the lovey dovey, but I'll just revel in it.

holy moly

2010-04-14T12:51:00.003-04:00

Crazy, crazy time.Still the happiest I've ever been, but seriously stressed about school the two moves and finding childcare and possibly subsidy. The wedding stress seems to have subsided thankfully. Let's hope it stays fun and doesn't come back.No time to blog. No time to read blogs and it makes me a little bit sad and feeling out of touch. I did get some human face to face contact with a

counting down

2010-04-08T12:20:00.002-04:00

I'm getting married in less than 4 months. I am moving in less than one. And then moving again in less than 6 months.I am writing my final phd exam in less than 2.why is the exam at the end of my list?

Hearts and Minds

2010-03-24T10:47:00.004-04:00

[disclaimer: I'm not a psychologist.]I have known a couple of people who haven't had any sense of empathy. Certainly, some people simply have more than others. But I've known a couple who have had none. It's a little frightening, and can be intimidating, for me as an empathetic person. I have often wondered is it something that we're all born with and either have it nurtured or not? is it

Slings and arrows

2010-03-24T10:03:00.008-04:00

Weird dog carrier slings and some other optionsSlings recalledI got one of these as a baby gift from a dear friend's mother. When I put Peanut in it, I thought it looked like a dog carrier that people took on planes and I kept on using my pouch sling and got to looking for a pattern for a different sling. She was all hunched up in it, and the fabric, while it had mesh for the baby to breathe,

this keeps making me giggle

2010-03-24T09:45:00.000-04:00

I haven't read this yet, but I'm more than tempted to order it

2010-03-22T12:59:00.008-04:00

Becoming Father BobFound an article about this children's book about the call to the priesthood. The book's goal is to show that God calls normal guys to become priests.Standing in the sunny garden courtyard of the Casa Santa Maria, a residence for U.S. priests studying in Rome, Father Kirby insisted he’s one of those “normal people” and that studying in Rome and attending or serving at papal

A list, B list

2010-02-25T08:44:00.004-05:00

I was rejected for a SSHRC, and in the rejection letter they discussed the A, B list system. You get put on the A list to be considered at the national level, or the B list so that you don't.I was on the B list. Well, they didn't say it that way. They said, "even though your application was quite good, we weren't able to put you on the A list this time around."--A few weeks ago I was writing some

the ring

2010-02-24T08:18:00.003-05:00

The Proof!He picked it out himself without any hints from me at all - and it was exactly what I wanted. Yellow gold, three stones, round cut, and lots of pretty extras that I never thought of with the stones down the sides and hearts on the mounts...<3 <3 <3

Goin' to the chapel and we're gonna get married

2010-02-23T21:13:00.001-05:00

Hello blog world. Update: He proposed, and I said yes.

I thought I'd be ready to talk about the comp, but I'm not

2010-02-05T09:38:00.002-05:00

I will say this. I didn't pass with the margin that I would have liked, and so I have a lot of work to continue to prove my interest and my dedication to the degree. That's the impression I got. It was sort of a mixed discussion post-exam, and I will likely blog about it sometime soon.Just not yet. Right now I am setting to work on 3 or 4 other projects -- one, a book chapter that I need to get

I passed.

2010-02-01T16:32:00.000-05:00

Will write more when I'm ready. :)

play some rap music

2010-01-31T15:03:00.004-05:00

(if the f word bothers you, don't watch this)(if rap music bothers you, don't watch this)

I am moved

2010-01-29T22:43:00.001-05:00

I am moved by fancies that are curledAround these images, and cling:The notion of some infinitely gentleInfinitely suffering thing.TS Eliot from "Preludes, IV"

a little off topic

2010-01-29T10:11:00.003-05:00

It seems like Lady Gaga wants your leather studded kiss in the sand, doesn't want to be friends, and instead wants your bad romance.While I'm a little embarrassed to admit that sometimes I can't get enough of this song, who really wants a bad romance anyway.

Can men and women be "Just Friends"?

2010-01-27T21:28:00.007-05:00

This has come up not only in my life but also in the lives of two close girl friends of mine recently. My thoughts are changing about being close to exes after a break up and even just male friends that I never dated or had any romantic interest in.I remember once in high school, when most of my circle of friends were male, one of my closest friends, lets call him Moose (his nickname was an

you know you are unprepared when

2010-01-27T14:01:00.001-05:00

you realize after two years of studying that a literary critic you thought was a woman, is in fact a man.Seriously, I wrote a whole essay on my comp in mid '08 calling him a "her"......I knew the theories.. just not that he was a he.:/Oy. At least now I know.

oral date set for next monday

2010-01-25T21:58:00.003-05:00

[insert freak out here]Had a practice with my advisor today and it went ok - still a lot of work to do before I'm ready. As it stands I think there's still a chance that I won't pass - but the chances are getting slimmer and slimmer by the day.Some exciting things on the horizon for my little family.. can't wait to fill you all in. :)

A wonderful man sent his girls beautiful flowers

2010-01-15T17:00:00.004-05:00

Such a great way to end a tough week - feeling so blessed. [Sweetheart with no pseudonym: Thank you for the flowers and the adorable gift for Peanut. You are truly the most amazingly thoughtful man I have ever known. xox]

Wow does it ever feel like a Friday

2010-01-15T15:20:00.006-05:00

Someone fantastic is sending me something from a flower shop. They just called to see when/if I'd be home. <3I sent out two letters this afternoon. Job Search has officially begun. I decided not to sit on the letters and it was a good decision. Got a call from the coordinator of CLC even before I sent out my letters:I'd be very interested in you sending your CV along and any other supporting

blogging some bullets: breathe in, breathe out

2010-01-15T13:32:00.002-05:00

Lots to write - lots to do. So let's just list the list.Conferencing: Submitted proposal for national conference; looking like I'll (we, cause it's with 2 others) be signing up for a similar one at the university levelJob Searching: revising letters is taking time. Was about to send and received an email about a CV/cover letter workshop next week. Called the workshop coordinator and she wants to

academic job search

2010-01-13T10:35:00.004-05:00

So, I'm looking for a job closer to the people that I love. I just got off the phone with a University Close to the People I Love (UCPL) and they told me about what appears to be an increased need for instructors this fall. It's not my field, but I'd definitely be able to teach it - it's sort of a Cross-Listed Class (CLC) with a ton of sections. If I were to teach CLC it wouldn't do a ton for my

The uncomps reading of the day

2010-01-13T01:55:00.001-05:00

A Valediction Forbidding MourningJohn DonneAS virtuous men pass mildly away, And whisper to their souls to go, Whilst some of their sad friends do say, "Now his breath goes," and some say, "No." So let us melt, and make no noise, No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move ; 'Twere profanation of our joys To tell the laity

got my extension on the chapter

2010-01-12T17:15:00.000-05:00

Now, to go pick up the toddler and make beef stew.

small thought from a whitman reading: don't read if you have a weak stomach

2010-01-12T12:14:00.004-05:00

"Europe, the 72nd and 73rd Years of These States" includes a mention of gibbeting - which, considering I'm not being a great historian of execution styles, I had to look it up. I wont post a link to the wikipedia article, but if you look for it, lots of accounts are there.3Meanwhile, corpses lie in new-made graves----bloody corpses of young men;The rope of the gibbet hangs heavily, the bullets of

need for new pseudonyms

2010-01-11T10:49:00.003-05:00

is becoming apparent. However, my brain is working on other things these days. - Exam in less than a month- Book chapter due in a few days but waiting for an extension to be granted because of said exam- working on a proposal for a pedagogy conference with some colleagues here- cover letters and CV for a part time academic job closer to my family and fantastic gentleman friend- the political/

Dating as a single mother

2009-12-17T10:38:00.002-05:00

It's not a reality I ever thought I'd be facing. How in the world do you manage a house, a child, a career, an education and then... a relationship. Certainly not something I ever thought about 3 years ago. There are moments when it's blatantly obvious that this is a two-person job (carrying in groceries and a child). And yet, there are moments when I'm faced with the things I hate more than

I love peer evaluations.

2009-12-11T15:41:00.000-05:00

that is all for now.

whew.

2009-12-08T22:58:00.003-05:00

I'm seriously thanking the Baby Jesus. I've been so stressed and I have had several non-useful meetings with department people who have wanted to blame my child and my single mother status for my stress. Uh... how about the fact that I've been given two independent teaching assignments and I'm not done field exams?In any case, they were flexible after seeing my concerns. I'm not teaching in the

I thought I saw the end of term

2009-12-03T16:26:00.002-05:00

But now there's a mountain of work to accomplish before I can move on to the new and it's hard.

2009-12-01T14:35:00.001-05:00

I just found out I don't have childcare on the nights that I'm teaching a course that I don't want to teach but that if I don't teach I will lose 1/3 of my funding for the year. fml.

end of term

2009-11-28T02:10:00.003-05:00

End of term is nuts. Emotions are high for everyone.. lack of sleep I think. poor nutrition. Whatever it is, it's awful.Can not wait for this to be over. Can't wait to breathe salty air again. THEN I get to start all over again.

I have a date tonight with Mr Fun Guy :)

2009-11-20T10:38:00.000-05:00

Just for today, and possibly until these papers are graded

2009-11-14T18:08:00.002-05:00

I am having serious doubts that one can teach, do a phd, and raise a child all at once.

bullets of love

2009-11-11T22:45:00.002-05:00

Mr Fun Guy - which sounds SO lame, but because the inside joke is so great to me I just want to leave it - well, he's just FUNtastic. Undeniably a generally great person and I'm glad we're getting to know one another. Quite the gent. Talented. Ambitious and makes me smile. God-focused. Humble and it's not annoying. Quite happy these days. Quite.I've been thinking a lot about how friendship

Comps reading

2009-11-08T09:22:00.002-05:00

Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita makes me sick. I don't get it. This will probably get me some gross hits. But, I just feel physically sick with some passages. I don't get the attraction t reading books that explains such a disordered mind in such detail.

on writing grad proposals

2009-11-06T12:09:00.003-05:00

There's a word. I can't think of it right now. So, I'm going to put a lesser one in as a placeholder.Edit. Edit. Print. Revise.Print.DEADLINE.Oops.

I want more time

2009-11-05T23:06:00.001-05:00

That's all.

I thought I would hate this book

2009-11-04T11:39:00.002-05:00

But.. I don't.So far, it's interesting.Will write more about it when I'm done reading -- likely after I hand in my SSHRC proposal on Friday.

the girl who cried in my class

2009-11-02T16:34:00.001-05:00

She came to my office hours and didn't mention it. Was worried about her essay, etc. She came to talk to me and doesn't feel discouraged but seems to be stepping up a bit to write the essay well and came to talk to me about citations. Good stuff.

so....I made someone cry.

2009-10-28T12:33:00.003-04:00

A student in my class last night. She cried at least twice. Possibly more than I noticed. I tried not to notice. It's possible that I was a big meanie and trying to impress my mentor who was checking out my class to write a letter for my portfolio. And, also possible that I was trying to address the issue that came up last week on a couple of my midterm evaluations (done by students) that I

discerning vocations

2009-10-28T12:19:00.004-04:00

I've been, once again, discerning vocational things.Someone's come into my life recently that has made it clear that I have to discern this all over again.It's all new again. Have I been single that long?Does this happen often, that when you find someone you not only discern whether you're supposed to be with that person, but also the WHOLE FRAKING THING. Because marriage is this sacrament that I

I can't even explain

2009-10-23T00:21:00.003-04:00

how much the word "meh" makes my blood boil. Details of the situation in which the "meh" is used make little difference in the long run, because to me, it says more about the person saying it than it does about the situation being commented on. The need or tendency to deem a circumstance unimportant, and oneself thus above it, pisses me right off. I suppose it's another thing when the "meh"ing

dangerously tired

2009-10-17T16:58:00.004-04:00

I am home to be at a friend's wedding. And, a wake. And, to see family. Students are being neglected in a small way, in that I'm not checking my course email right now.I'm driving a minivan. I took the scenic route home, because family who will be babysitting Peanut for the rest of the evening isn't back from funeral. Got some great shots of this place. It's freezing cold, but sunny and then

2009-10-13T07:26:00.003-04:00

Great Thanksgiving weekend - spent with two families who didn't give thanks at Dinner. They were most gracious, but had other things on their table and minds. P'nut and I had a lot of fun at both places and it was nice to be around family, even if it wasn't my own.--Spent my commutes to these dinners talking to (I know, driving and on the phone/ignore that) a cute, Catholic, conservative but

love it away

2009-10-08T22:16:00.005-04:00

This post is about boys. And a realization I've recently made...Realization: For most of my dating life I have accepted less than adequate treatment from men.It isn't just from the romantic relationships in my life, but also some family relationships and some friendships too.The realization isn't simply about having jerks in my life. That's part of it -- that I have jerks in my life and why am I

having her at the babysitter

2009-10-01T17:15:00.000-04:00

Makes me a little bit lonely and a little bit homesick. Shaking my head a little at this sentiment, but moving on.There are other things, boy things, going on -- or really, not going on, that are bugging me too. So I'm just trying to focus on what matters.Maybe I need a little more Jesus.

update re: babysitter

2009-09-30T12:03:00.000-04:00

Things are going better.. so much better that I'm not even going there to feed Peanut at lunch today.I kind of miss it. :(