Catch up

Right now I am sitting on Cynthia’s bed while she sits on her computer and types as well. Guess it runs in the family. Rather interesting.

I am going to attempt to catch you all up on what has been happening over the past couple of months. I was going to do it as separate blog entries but well, as Inigo would say in The Princess Bride, “Let me ‘splain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up.” Lol So, that is what I am going to do.

School: I believe that I mentioned that I passed my comprehensive exams. Whew. The next phase was to write my prospectus and pass the defense for that. I figured that the defense was really just a way for all of us to make sure that we are on the same page and to agree on how I was going to proceed. The defense went well. My topic was solidly approved and advice was given on how to proceed. Now that I have a game plan, I should be able to plug along fairly well. At least, I hope so.

Work: I barely survived the semester but managed it somehow. Juggling is so not my strong suit. I teach way too much but I need what little money I can get from it. I do love teaching but. . .ugh, too many classes burn a person out. Next semester I will have one less English class so that should be better. Just don’t tell my wallet that. Lol Work at the store is gong fairly well. It is good that I am away for a few days because I was starting to feel a little fried from that too. I do like the job but the getting up super early for the morning holiday hours was starting to wear upon me. I am so not a morning person and waking up before the sun is just so ugh. Part of the problem is that I tend to pick up energy late at night and so that doesn’t help me get good sleep. Ah, well, I’ll stop bitching now.

Social: Part of the problem this semester was that on top of my normal schedule, I was actually having a social life. It’s because of my hanging out with Jonathan and Mike. To refresh your memories, Jonathan is my new high school teacher friend. We met in August when he came into the store and we started talking. I did a book fair for him and then we became friends. He’s a good guy and lots of fun to hangaround. I have dubbed him the “little brother I would have drowned.”

Mike is a regular customer at the store. I’ve “known” him for about a year. And I’ve been flirting with him for that long though he was apparently unaware of it until September (which I’m still trying to figure out because there were times when he flirted back but that was all. . .how confusing!). Anyway, back in October right before my spring break, Valerie came down (so we could go have fun in Asheville) and we planned upon going to see Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Wererabbit (wheeeeee!). Good movie, watch it. Well, Jonathan planned on going with us and Mike happened to come into the store (he always comes in on Fridays) and so I asked him to come along too. It was a good evening. Later I dragged him to see Serenity(buy the DVD!) with myself and Erin. After that, I let him pick the movie and we started hanging out more regularly. I wasn’t sure what was going on with us (obvious that I like him and he likes me but was there more?) but that all got cleared up at the beginning of this month. We are “officially” dating. It’s been fun and a great energy booster. We get along very well. Different personalities on some levels but that’s good. We have a lot in common in the areas that matter. So, we’ll see. As Mike said at one point, “It’s complicated.” But a hell of a lot of fun. So, if any of you were confused by “The Perfect Gift” entry earlier. . .now you know. And should you have questions, well, you know how to get in touch with me. Lol

I’m to go to the northern Kyle’s for New Year’s. I’m hoping that Mike will be able to come up and join us. He has to work all this week (his request for time off was denied) but we may get lucky on the timing. I’ve never been “with” someone for a New Year’s before and it would just be so special to have him here. It would so start the new year off on the right foot.

Ah. . .life is good right now.

The Perfect Gift

Omg. . .last night I got the most awesome gift. A few weeks ago I took Mike to Itsallinthename (a new store in Columbia where I told everyone to shop for presents for me) and showed him some things that I would like as a Christmas present. I specifically took him to see a limited lithograph by Nene Thomas that I wanted. Well, they didn't have the one that I saw at the online store but they did have one that is just as gorgeous. And he got it for me! Now, I did show him other things so he would have options but. . .yippee! Mike even got it framed for me and it is sooooo nice. I so absolutely love this gift. I could look at it forever. Instead of trying to describe it, here is a copy:



Isn't it gorgeous? And you know what I realized today? That I signed Mike's Christmas card as "Always, Lynn" and the name of the peace is "Always." lol Yeah, I know it's just a coincidence but it's a cool one. I am so bouncing off the walls.

Hugs and Happy Holidays to all!!

Fruits Basket Character

Ok, so Mike's favorite manga character is from Fruits Basket. So, I decided to take a little quiz and see which character I would be:

TOHRU:



If you want a description of her, go here: Tohru

Hmmmm. . .wow, this is his favorite character. Guess there is a reason beyond "momentary insanity" for us to be going out. (sigh) Now I really do need to read these books. Ah well.

My top result for the SelectSmart.com selector, What Fruit Basket Character are you?, is Tohru

Happy Birthday, Daddy

I remember the first time that I saw this picture. I laughed and laughed because I thought he was so goofy looking. Now I look back and think how handsome he was at 17. The black and white photo doesn't do the steel blue eyes justice but at least it shows that Kramer spark.

I try not to remember how he looked at the end but how he looked for most of my life. How he looked in the good times. A lot of my photos are in storage but I think this one pretty much sums up our family spirit:



Wish you and mom were here. I miss you both.



Marilyn Kramer and Charles Kramer on their wedding day June 18, 1960
(6/25/43-3/28/92) (12/4/36-1-8-98)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ok, ok, I know it's the day after Thanksgiving and all that but I wasn't home yesterday. I went to a friend's house and had a very nice time. It was a very relaxing day and a much needed break from the hectic schedule that I have been keeping. I am so sorry that I have been letting this blog slide. Nathalie wrote and said that she has been checking it but hadn't seen much new. So, I decided that I quick update was the way to go.

The semester has been even more hectic than usual, if you can imagine that. Next week is the last week of classes already. Eeeeeeek! Then I have finals to deal with. So many papers to grade, so little time. So, I probably won't be able to do the catching up justice until then. Sorry, but this little bit will have to keep you tantalized.

So, I've spent the past two months: teaching, working at the store, working on the dissertation, trying to have a little bit of a social life. . . . Can you see why I haven't had time to update? As for that last bit, I'll be evil and let you hang about it. mwahaha I promise that you will have lots to read in December and all. Hope everyone is well. Miss all of you all I don't get to see or talk to.

Slayer Quiz

The One True Slayer 79 Bites of Slayage

Damn. Not only have you died twice doing what you do, but no one understands your burden and you find yourself disturbingly attracted to vampires. You are the ultimate repository of what it takes to be the Slayer, and no one can tell you otherwise. If you don't own all seven seasons on DVD, it's cause they haven't been released in your country yet. I am in total awe of you, and maybe just the tiniest bit creeped out.

My test tracked 1 variable How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 49% on bites

Link: The Ultimate Buffy Test written by Iguanita41 on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

My Mood for the Day

So Weary
by Gwen Dickerson
Monday, September 19, 2005

Yea ... I am so weary

I yearn for a long deep sleep
A sleep filled with ancient dreams
Of spiritual realms, of healing waters
Of sky and land and star-burst colors
The astral scenes of divinity's themes

Far away from man's self-made mess
Far away from ego and selfishness
Away from disorder and lawlessness
Away from greed and material quests

Yea ... I am so weary

Life demands we commit to its rituals
Parade in its pageantry, lend voice to its story
Being mindful of countless other lives
Whose tears and laughter color our lives
Weaving world history, affecting world destiny

Life demands that we learn from our mistakes
That we love or hate situations or things
That we adapt, change, fight or flee
Delving deep into its mystery
Becoming great beings with gilded wings

Yet, yea ... I am so weary
I yearn for a long deep sleep
But not ... just ... yet
But not ... just ... yet

Copyright © 2005 by Gwen Dickerson
All Rights Reserved.
Author's Den

Beaurocratic Bullshit

Did that get your attention? I thought it might. Now, I don't consider myself the most politically motivated person in the world unless there is an issue (or stupidity) that pisses me off. I tend to try and see both sides of an issue fairly. This is one thing that makes me a good teacher in the eyes of my students: they can have their opinions and I won't fail them because they voice something against my own beliefs. Trust me, teachers do this. I've known a few of my colleagues who have been less than objective in their grading when it came to viewpoints. It's actually something that I've been aware of since I was a freshman. My then advisor enlightened me upon the political bullshit that goes on in the academic world. And occasionally I get reminded of it.

Like now.

(sigh) It's really a small matter but coupled with some of the other things that have happened in the administrative realm this semester, it really tweaks my cookie. We have some new higher ups who have wandered into our academic bubble and who think they know what's the deal around here. They have managed to squash on everyone's toes to the point that even the most mild mannered of us is rolling eyes and spouting steam out various orifices.

But I digress.

This small matter has to do with transcipts. See, when an academic applies for a teaching position somewhere, they have to submit an offical transcript from their graduating university. Makes sense since you need to show that you actually have the proper credentials. I just heard (like 20 minutes ago) that a few years ago this wasn't the case and even the tenured profs had to provide ancient transcripts to prove their credentials. Guess they had some fakes. (rolls eyes)

Well, I have been here for ten years now. It's actually a joke that I should be pulling tenure because of it. Ha ha. I am still technically a student. But, when I came back from France two years ago, I no longer had an assistantship. So, I am no longer a "student" worker. Nor am I technically faculty because I have not been hired as such. I am listed either as instructor, lecturer, or adjunct (which is not an official term), depending upon who does the paperwork. Am I qualified? Well, duh. I've had all of the requisite courses to teach the classes I have now and then some. Said classes were all taken at this university.

So do I have to supply a transcript? Yup. Here's the kicker: they just made me pay for the damn thing. $8 is $8. . .2+ gallons of gas. Now, this wouldn't steam me quite so much if I was working at a university that was different from where I have 1) gotten a degree and 2) am getting a degree; a university where I am still a student. They can access my records with no problem. I know they can. I am under no illusions that my information cannot be seen by a vast number of people here. Sheesh. Identity security? Yeah, right. Oh, sorry, I had to show them my id. Like that couldn't be forged. I could have just as easily shown them on the computer that I can access my information because I know my password. But wait, maybe that wouldn't have proven I was me either. Idiocy. This is so going as a tax deduction.

I told the girl at the registrar's office that I thought it was bullshit. And I apologized for that and said I know it's not her fault but that I thought it was ridiculous. I couldn't believe it when she asked me if I wanted to take the damn thing over there myself instead of having them mail it over. Oh, yeah, it would probably not be a good idea since I might feel compelled to tell someone there that I think the whole thing is bullshit. She agreed even though she tried to get me to take it over anyway. Keep in mind, I actually checked that particular box on the form they made me fill out which she barely looked at. (snort) They can mail the thing over since I had to pay them for it anyway. How hard is it to drop it in campus mail when that is part of the service? And then I don't have to think about it. Sheesh

Can you tell that I am in an incredibly foul mood today? grrrrr

Late night movies

Ah, it is so much fun to decide to do something at the spur of the moment. Jonathan came by the store again. Tony needs to hire him so he'll get paid for his time at the store. lol At one point he got a craving for a giant cookie. I was helping someone when he disappeared but I figured that was where he went. He came back with a big box for us all. How sweet. And they were yummy. I don't usually like white chocolate but it's fine in The Cookie Company's white chocolate chunk and macadamia nut cookies. Yum. . .I love cookies with nuts in them.

Since Jonathan didn't have anything to do, I suggested that we go see The Skeleton Key. Figured we'd drag Marci along too but she didn't want to see a scary film. So, we settled on The Wedding Crashers and the plan to meet with Jonathan as soon as we finished closing the store. This would have been no problem normally but our calendar kiosk is open (don't ask me why when it's only September) and there was some confusion with its closing. So, we didn't get out until 10p. Movie started at 9:40. Still, not too bad but Marci thought it was at the one theatre when it was actually at the other. . .so, we got there way too late to go in. Not many choices. I pushed Four Brothers but Marci couldn't decide until she ran into a former co-worker (she used to work at the theatre) and he said it was good. So that is what we ended up seeing.

And it was good. The dialogue was snappy and there were some new things in the action/fight sequences. So, it was a pretty good choice.

Oh, and I don't want to forget to mention that Jonathan now has a new car. I forget what kind it is but you can see it on his blog. It's very cute and a very nice little ride. It actually didn't feel too small to me (though it is smaller than something I would by) and was very comfy. It's silver so I've dubbed it The Silver Bullet (and yes, I am very well aware of the connotations). Jonathan has a right to be proud of his acquisition.

Before I forget, I should mention that on Thursday I had the students analyze "The Music of the Night" from The Phantom of the Opera. That section liked Butler's performance better than Crawford's. But one student decided to be a wit and claimed that it was all about a man on a toilet ("to sweet music's throne"). *snort* Too damn funny. And he made his argument well. Such an interesting semester thus far.

Palmetto Bugs and Jail Breaks

I have to say that there are days when my life is very interesting in class. Take tonight for example. . .my current FJ group can get pretty darn snarky. Now, not all of the speeches tonight lent themselves to funny questions but there were enough.

The first was a speech on organ donation. Now, you would think that with such a serious topic no one would come up with any wit beyond the standard urban legend scares. Wrong. Poor guy got two odd questions. #1: "Back on February 14, 1987, a girl named _________ gave me a letter that declared that I had her heart. So, does that mean that I can have a transplant with it if she dies?" (something to that effect) The student (who is in the medical field) looked puzzled until he realized how the other meant things. Yeah, he'd been given the heart on a little smurf card. Sheesh. #2 was better: "Yeah, do you now if they harvest testicles?" "I am not aware of them being able to do testicle transplants." Now there's a King horror story waiting to be written.

Then we had our first law breaking speech of the evening because it was about radar detectors. The student claims that the first ever was called a Fuzz Buster. Is that anything like a Dust Buster? Probably not. One of the MPs asked, "Ok, what is your license # and what do you drive?" lol

One of the girls talked about eating live octopus and live blow fish. You heard me right. . .LIVE. Yuck! She even had two short videos showing people eating a still moving squid. The only thing that wasn't right was that the octopi were cut up when usually they eat them whole. Supposedly a man died from swallowing a whole one that was still full of fight and blocked up his esophagus. Yeah, sure, really wanna try eating that. And blow fish have poison in them so lots of people die every year from improperly prepared dishes. Thanks but I'll pass there too. Give me a crispy critter burger.

At the beginning of one speech, a medium-sized Palmetto bug fell from the ceiling. Now, for those of you who aren't in the know, Palmetto bugs are a cockroach. This particular one seemed a little stunned and then ventured near the speaker who unknowingly flipped it on its back (the speaker was shifty from nerves) and then squished it a few times. I was close enough to hear the crunches. Well, during the next speaker's presentation, we all got to witness the true horror of these bugs: they FLY. Now this isn't the first time that I've had one fly at me but. . .yuck! It landed on my notebook (this one was tiny). I proceeded to flip the notebook and bash the thing off of the table. Didn't kill it of course cause those suckers are hardy. The student gets extra brownie points for taking the whole brief incident in stride. But hey, teaches them about unusual distractions.

The last two speeches sort of came as a set. This did not surprise me since the two military dudes are buddies. Meep 1 opened his speech with the following Attention Getter (AG): "Once inside the bank shortly after midnight, their efforts at disabling the internal security system got underway immediately. The robbers, who expected to find one or two large safes filled with cash and valuables, were surprised to see hundreds of smaller safes scattered throughout the bank. The robbers cracked the first safe's combination, and inside they found only a bowl of vanilla pudding. As recorded on the bank's audio tape system, one robber said, "At least we'll have a bit to eat." The robbers opened up a second safe, and it also contained nothing but vanilla pudding. The process continued until all the safes were opened. They found not one pound sterling, a diamond, or an ounce of gold. Instead, all the safes contained covered bowls of pudding. Disappointed, the robbers made a quiet exit, each leaving with nothing more than a queasy, uncomfortably full stomach. The newspaper headline read: Ireland's Largest Sperm Bank Robbed This Morning." He claimed it was from the Dublin Times but it's obviously a joke. Still, gotta give him credit for a really good AG. (I got my copy from http://www.snopes.com/humor/jokes/sperm.htm) In a very serious tone, he then proceeded to detail how to rob a bank. (shakes head) I shoulda known what was coming next.

So, Meep 2 decided that he would begin HIS speech with the question, "How many of you would love to spend you life in prison?" Some wit said yes. Meep 2 then launched into, "Prison Life is dangerous. Other people tell you what you can eat, when you can shower, and when you can sleep. The cells are deplorable consisting of a concrete slab and a toilet and sink. Most people spend their time pacing like caged animals. With the added dangers of shanking and sodomy there is only one acceptable solution. Break out! Breaking out of prison is in some cases the easiest way to shorten your sentence, and maybe the only way to prove your innocence. With a little careful planning and the right tools breaking out of the joint is easy. . . ." (direct quote from his outline) The funniest part was when he said that you could choose to use a pole vault or catapult but you have to be careful because you could end up landing flat on the ground or on the wall. His source? A video made by Mr. Wile E. Coyote. (rolls eyes) It was the only source he cited in the speech but he did mention a few movies on his outline. Because there was a long explanation about tunneling, some wit asked, "Should I get in contact with Morgan Freeman before I begin?" I was thinking more like the Comte de Monte Cristo but, hey, I'm a literary geek (besides, Jim Caviezel is hot in that movie).

There are days when I really love my job.

Awesome Day

Well, it was a pretty darn good day, all told. Slept like crap last night but that was only because the neighbor's dog thought 2a was a good beginning barking time. Sheesh. Class was very laid back and relaxed. I often wonder how much people get out of it but I ran into a former student later and he said the class has helped a lot. (oh, geez, as I write this, the damn dog's at it again)

Anyway, today was Angela's book signing at the store. I'd set it up so that she, Michelle, Morgan, and I met up for lunch ahead of time at my fave Columbia restaurant, Miyo's. The latter three and I got to the restaurant at the same time. I forgot how tiny Morgan is! I mean, I know she's shorter than me (most women are) but I'd forgotten by how much. I guess it's cause of her large personality. It's very bizarre to hug such a petite adult. lol Michelle isn't quite as small but I almost feel like I will break them (course, Morgan would quickly prove that theory wrong with a bear hug). It's too amusing.

Angela arrived a few minutes after us. Now there's a woman to match me in height. So when we went inside and sat down in one of the curved booths, I made the tiny ones sit on the inside. (grin)

Lunch was pretty darn good overall. Got my first martini taste (Morgan's) and I can say that I like Sour Apple Martinis. Not so much the Mimosa that Michelle had but it was ok. Just a sip of each for me. Heck, last drink I had was months ago. I feel like such a teatotaler. lol The only hitch at lunch was Angela's curry being too spicy for her. The waitress said it wasn't really but it came out hot. So, we got her something different. That was disappointing to me because I like the place so much and so rarely have a problem. (I say rarely because I've been eating there regularly for years and there's bound to be an odd glitch or two.) But overall it was fun to sit and chat and be girly.

I actually wore a flowy peasant skirt that I found last weekend at a store (with a white chemise and teal overshirt). Yes, as my co-worker, Marci, said, "the devils must be freezing." But I really like it and felt girly for once (not completely because I was wearing my New Balance so I didn't kill my feet at work but I was comfy overall).

Tony had everything set up for when we got to the store. That was great. The mall wasn't that busy but things seemed to be fairly steady. We did really well with the signing. Business was definitely better because of it. It was really fun. Jonathan, a new friend and fellow teacher, showed up and ended up hanging out with us all day. The girls kidnapped him for dinner (I had to stay at the store). So wish I coulda been there for that. Would have been fun. Told Tony I would like not to have to work for the next time Angela and the girls come.

Only thing I wish that I had done was order more copies of the one anthology that Angela AND Morgan are in. (sigh) Oh, well, there's always next time. I did get to chat with Angela about writing and all sorts of fun things. I really think that the four of us should go down to next year's ICFA conference. We would just have too much fun. And it would be a good way for the others to make contacts. Hell, with the way we all get along so well, I'm sure we would survive the trip.

Something to think about for the future.

Well, I am completely zonked. So need sleep. Will leave you with the thoughts that this was an awesome day and I am so happy to have such great girlfriends. It doesn't feel like we've only known each other for just a few months. . .it feels like a comfortable forever. Rest well, darlings. Love yas.

Whodunit

I have a good way to torture your students: have them try to figure out how a mystery ends. To be precise, have them try and figure out how a Sherlock Holmes story ends. lol I came up with this idea several years ago as a way to explain New Criticism. See, with New Criticism, nothing but the text itself matters. Your analysis should be supported by whatever clues are in the text just like Holmes figures out the crimes because of the clues around him. Even the least little word could have great meaning.

This is driving my students nuts. My TTH group took it all in stride but some of the students in the MW group were flipping out because they wanted to know NOW. lol Poor babies. The one guy is going to fight me on it, I know. He loudly proclaimed that mystery stories are to be read all at once and not separated. That the point of reading them is not to figure it out yourself but to find out who/what/when/where by reading the whole story. Gee, one reason I like reading mysteries is because I like to see if I can guess correctly what is going to happen.

Is this proof that the generations behind us have a shorter attention span? Possibly. But I only have 75 minutes to get a major point across and I try and find fun ways to do. Ok, I do have longer than 75 minutes because I spend multiple class times on the theories but I like to try and come up with various ways for the students to think about the techniques. "The Musgrave Ritual" is one of those ways.

Can't wait to see how they squirm when I introduce them to "The Phantom of the Opera" musical. hee hee

Catch Up

Ok, since I feel too blech to focus on work. . .I'll catch up on here.

First, yes, I passed the written exams. Barely. But they want me to work hard and prove to them that I am really ready to write my dissertation, etc. So, that will be my focus for the next week. My orals are on the 14th. Fortunately, I don't have to work at the store much before then. Unfortunately, either my allergies are acting up or I have a cold now from everything. My head feels all muddled today so when I met with one of my profs, I wasn't very focused though I was trying hard to be. Blech.

Anyway. . .right after classes started, I took a small break and went to see Michelle in Charlotte so we could hang and I could meet her hubby and daughter. It was a really great day. very relaxing and soooo needed after the stress of the exams. Her hubby is a real trip and her daughter is adorable. It was nice to be around such a good family vibe. Too bad it was only for one day but that's ok cause there's always next time.

School started off fairly well. I like all of my classes. Should be an interesting semester. The MW English class has some interesting students in it. Well, they all do but that one will be the extreme case for the semester. Things seem to be clicking along fairly well. It's good to have a routine again.

My office is pretty good. My two officemates and I don't have the same hours so that lets me focus on getting stuff done if I need to. So far that plan is working out all right (except for today). The only annoying thing is that there is the occasional student who seems to think that I know the whereabouts of everyone else on this corner of the hall. Uh, no. Have no freaking clue when Professor So-and-so will be back. Geez, do I LOOK like I have a people's dayplanners taped to my forehead? If they aren't in, leave them a note. Or email them. Don't bug someone who is obviously working on something. Have my headphones on listening to Vivaldi so I don't have to deal with anyone who isn't looking for me. But, for the most part, this part of the hall is quiet.

I had a 3 day weekend and almost didn't know what to do with myself. Well, I got some shopping done. Got some research done. And lots of sleep yesterday. I went and saw "Redeye" on Sunday and it is a really good movie. I completely recommend it if you're looking for a good thriller. There were moments when I was on the edge of my seat. Cillian Murphy makes a really creepy bad guy. I think it's how blue his eyes are and how "pretty" he is. When he wants to be seductive, he's yummy, but when he's pulling for ice cold. . .well, run some ice down your back and you'll get the gist. brrrr

There was so much that I wanted to write about before but now it just won't stay in my head. Oh, one thing. . .Angela's book signing at the store this weekend. Been advertising the heck out of it. I really hope it does well. That would be great. i finally got to read one of her novels (I'd only read short stuff before) and I really got into it. I even have an idea for a book myself.

(sigh) Ideas. Have a lot of those floating around. Really need to try and pull it all together and focus on stuff. That is so hard to do when my brain runs a bazillion miles a minute. And I have so much work to do in so many areas. Geez. One thing I may have to do is quit the store. I really like working there and it helps keep me grounded in reality but. . .the hours are starting to wear me out now that school has started. I asked Tony for less hours but that doesn't seem to be happening. I'll wait until after my orals to see what I will do. I really need to focus on my work. Really need to spend quantity time on stuff. It's a nice thought to say that I could save up the money from the store for next semester so I can focus on the diss but. . .don't I need to do that now? And what good will it do me if I burn myself out? Yuck, I hate being practical.

So, we'll see what happens. I have given up hope of having much of a life right now because of needing to get work done but I refuse to compromise what free time I can snag for myself. Anyway, I'll try and write little blurbs here and there of the amusing stuff that happens. Definitely more stuff to report now that the semester is underway. My students are an endless source of information and amusement. Welcome to my life as it normally is. lol

Bog

So much to write, so little time. So here's the plan. . .I'll clean my apartment on Sunday and then write a couple of blog entries. I'll either post them all at once or in pieces (so YOU don't get bogged down too with reading them). Sound like a good plan? I think so. That way we catch up the story. Have a feeling there will be lots to talk about. lol Life is full again (wait, when isn't it?).

Comprehensive Exams

Comps are a modern torture device, they really are. I feel like a circus dog who only has three legs but is still expected to jump through flaming hoops. Why do I only have three legs? Because one got caught in a hoop in January and was burnt to a cinder. So, yesterday I had to redo that hoop and I think my fur is singed. We'll see.

Anyway, I suppose I should explain the comps process for my particular area here. I am in comparative literature. All of my coursework is done. So, my current step is to pass my comprehensive exams so that I can write my dissertation. Now, the comps consist of two parts: written and oral. The written part has three sections: 1) theory (mine is mythological and psychoanalytic), 2) outside literature area (British/French/American fantasy), 3) dissertation topic (Shakespeare, Jean Racine, Pierre & Thomas Corneille). I was given 4 questions per section and 2 hours per section to answer 2 questions from my choices. Yeah, I know, not a whole heck of a lot of time, especially when you have no idea what could be asked from the copious amounts of material. You can't write great work but you can at least show you know what you're talking about. Now, I took the written in January and screwed up my outside area. Which, for anyone who knows me is kind of ironic since that is mostly what I read and have been doing so for the past umpteen years.

The problem was two-fold. On one hand, I was so worried about screwing up the other (and what I thought of as tougher) sections that I didn't worry about that one since I know the lit. And there is the other part of the problem. . .I thought that I was supposed to prove that I know the LITERATURE. That's all that is on my book list for that section (overall I have about 80 books on my comps list to know). Nope, needed to know more theory. Well, fantasy theory is relatively new in a sense. . .the father of it is Tzvetan Todorov who wrote the book in the 1950s. I said in a sense because you can obviously glean certain fantastic theoretical elements from 19th century authors on poetry and prose. But the main theory didn't really hit until Todorov. Well, he was the only real fantasy theorist on my list. The rest were more myth based (which, again, is part of fantasy theory but it only focuses on that one area and not on what makes modern fantasy what it is per se). Well, I have never had a class on fantasy literature. I belong to International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts and the Lord Ruthven Assembly (which can be found via the iafa link) and have given papers there over the past 4 years (I missed one out of the past five conferences because I was in France in 2003). But most of my papers have been comparative things that have not relied upon fantastic theory: 2001: A Space Odyssey compared to Anne Mcaffrey's Pegasus trilogy; an exploration of Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer; an exploration of Caliban in various versions of The Tempest; a comparison of Charlotte Perkins Gilman'sThe Yellow Wallpaper and Peter Straub's Ashputtle.

Anyway, I was also clueless on how to approach that section because my only advice on studying in general for the comps had been, "Make lists." Okie dokie. So, I focused my energy on the other two sections and screwed up the third. Oh, it was completely fair that they made me redo the exam. My answers on that section (especially the second question) sucked air. I was completely exhausted by the time I took that part and my brain went into complete meltdown by the time I attempted the second question. So, it was all fair.

So, yeah, yesterday was finally the retake. How did I do? I have no freaking clue (sorry for the rhyme). My nerves kicked in after I was done and I started panicking that I sucked again. Cause if that is true. . .I'm out. No more chances. Yuck. Did I do better than last time? Definitely. Will it be enough? Dunno. Hopefully so cause it would be really crappy to be ousted on my outside area. So, now I get to do the hurry up and wait plan.

In the meantime I will plug on with my work. Should they deign to let me move on to the orals, I will have to take them in a month which means I need to get cracking on how to defend myself. Just want to get to that part so I can show I know the stuff (which I do) better than what is represented in 8 pages of cram writing. (yes, I can type really fast when I need to) Classes start on Thursday and I have a day long meeting tomorrow (yippee fun). Actually, I'm glad classes are starting because now I'll have a set schedule. And maybe I'll have more stuff for this here blog.

What Kind of Novel Should I Write?

Interesting. . .and let's not forget that I am drawn to tragedies so. . .


GOTHICS! - Deep, dark, mysterious and melodramatic.
You are drawn to write tales of the shadows and
what might lurk there. Could it be Love? Or
Madness? Anne Rice and Bram Stoker are your
guides.


What Kind of Novel Should I Write?
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Academic Writing

I started teaching a 2.5 week writing course over at the university for the English Program for Internationals (EPI). I am teaching Fulbright scholars. My 17 students are from all over the world (Europe, Asia, South America) and will be attending an American university in the fall for work on either an MA or a PhD. Considering that these are graduate students, you may be wondering what I could possibly have to teach them in a writing course. A lot, actually.

See, they are all very good at writing in their home countries. They are intelligent, enthusiastic, etc. I really like them. But see, they are used to writing in their culture's style. As with a great many other things, there is no universal style of writing. Heck, there isn't even a universal style in the States. What do I mean by style? Well, in this case I mean formatting/layout of the academic/nonfiction text. Grammar/sentence structure matters as well (for that see Strunk's Elements of Style) but my main focus is how to research and document sources. It's much more rigid than the rules for creative writing where you can experiment to a certain degree. There are more style types (see Style Manuals and Citation Guides) than you would at first think but fortunately we mainly deal with APA (American Psychological Association) and MLA (Modern Language Association).

I've had experience with both over the years but my humanities focus mainly deals with MLA. Most of my students are APA. lol So, guess who gets to relearn the style. Actually, it's a good thing to know. I've talked with colleagues and we all agree that there is no way to know every style rule -- even in the one you use most. Hence the need for the sites and books.

One of my students (from Brasil) asked me if he could just write in his home style since it was simple and he knows it. His reasoning was that he would be going from this class to another in two weeks where he would have to use yet another style. I had to answer in the negative. I understood his point (having had to bounce around from style to style myself over the years) but the point of the class is to learn the style that he will use in his American classes. It sucks to have to come from a weak argument position of, "No, you need to do this style because that's the way things are." But, it's the truth. When it comes to academics there are certain rules that just can't be gotten around even if they don't seem to make sense at first. In this case, I do think the rule makes sense because if he were to publish here (which he claims he will not pursue but you never know), he would have to submit in the proper format. This gives the journal a consistent look. And that is no bad thing.

Have you guessed at the second problem of having everyone in the class using their home style? I don't know them. I would be willing to learn them but the problem comes with the styles most likely being in their home language. I am no linguistic scholar. While I have a natural talent for deciphering things, the only other language that I can read with any ease is French. I can pick out words in Spanish but not with any degree of fluency. And I don't know the Chinese alphabet (my one Japanese student said that they use the Chinese alphabet for writing) so I would be completely at a loss there.

Of course, another side to the whole argument is that if they are allowed to write in their home styles. . .what would be the point of the class? Nothing. They would learn nothing that they could use in the future.

Also, the secondary point to the class (and the bigger goal) is to help them understand the concept of plagiarism. According to my superiors, many of the EPI students don't understand the severity of such an action. They don't really comprehend it because their culture isn't set up that way. Mostly, if it's accessible, you can use it. Giving proper citation and credit is not always necessary depending upon what it is. I suspect that EPI is referring to paraphrasing more so than direct quotation. Ugh, paraphrasing is a hard thing because we get most of our information from outside of ourselves. But see, these rules are hammered into American students from very early on. This does not mean that American students don't plagiarize (snort. . .uh huh, never had that happen in my class. . .riiiiggght) but that they have no excuse for doing such a thing. Each case is different, and accidents can happen, but it is an ingrained cultural context. Getting used to using a particular citation style helps keep that concept at the front of our brain instead of the back.

So, I guess that is essentially the whole point to learning a resourcing style: to help keep ourselves honest. It isn't easy but who said it had to be? And it certainly isn't fun for 99% of us (I know a few linguists who love this stuff. . .they're just weird) (wink). Most of my students (both EPI and regular semester) will never really have to use this stuff but does that make it pointless? No. It helps hone a sense of discipline. And even if it doesn't, no knowledge is ever truly wasted. We may not be aware of how knowledge affects us or will affect us, but that is a joy of having it.

Which Literature Classic Are You?

Cool since it's one of my faves.

J.R.R. Tolkien: Lord of the Rings. You are
entertaining and imaginative, creating whole
new worlds around yourself. Well loved, you
have a whole league of imitators, none of which
is quite as profound as you are. Stories and
songs give a spark of joy in the middle of your
eternal battle with the forces of evil.


Which literature classic are you?
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Which Classic Writer Are You?

This is an interesting quiz:


Adairia AMCLI Okami.
July 25, year unknown (presumably in the early
1400s)
"It was a year in which I did not live and I
was there by no mistake. I was as high as
sound, just as everyone around me. I was there,
I was there watching the lyrics be born and
here listening to them mature at the same time.
I swayed with the rhythm of the music behind
her voice. The music played with me as if I
were a cattail and it were the wind, tossing me
in whichever direction it pleased. I felt it,
the meaning washed through me and I soaked in
every last detail. It was far more powerful
than I, and I willingly submitted. I was no
longer listening, I was belonging to it. It
took me over with little effort, and I loved
it."
You are different from your predecessors. You do
many things people have never seen or done
before, and you do them well. You will someday
be well known for your talent, if you're not
already. The best thing about you is that
you're excellent at what you do and you're
still developing your talent. Chances are,
writing isn't your only talent. Perhaps you are
also a musician, an actress, or an artist. You
are determined to be heard and you have a lot
to say. You will be, in time. Just keep doing
what you do. Never quit.


Which Classic Writer Are You? (With Pics)
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Murphy's Law for Phones

Why is it that you can go days without a phone call but the minute you get on the phone (or are about to) with someone you haven't talked to in yonks you get a billion other calls from people? lol I feel sooooo popular tonight. Got to talk with Brenda tonight (she is so silly. . .she lost my phone # and my address). She called just as I was gonna call Sam (who I finally saw online after weeks of her acting like a phantom -- did you like the analogy, Sam?). So, Bren and I ended and then I got on the phone with Sam. Just as I was getting off the phone with Sam, Beth calls. lol Now I am writing to you and having a threeway conversation with her and Shawnna (who was griping that her house was finally silent and I was talking to OTHER people). lol

Whew. No, no, not complaining. Just being highly amused and wanting to share. Thought it would be good to at least write about something today. At least I finally got to talk with you all! Yay!

London 2 Part 2

Wow. They shot a completely innocent man. The guy turned out not to have been connected in any way to the bombings. His only crime was having been in the wrong place at the wrong time ("police said officers trailed the man after he emerged from a nearby house that was under surveillance because of a suspected link to Thursday's attempted attacks.") "Suspicious of his behavior and clothing, officers followed him into the station and then ordered him to stop, police said. Witnesses said the man ran into a subway car, where officers fatally shot him about five times at point-blank range. He has not been identified." Again, wow. This is extreme even by US standards and we all know that we have hair triggers when stuff happens.

At first it sounded like the police were accepting responsibility for their actions and mistake but look at this:

"London's Mayor Ken Livingstone called the killing a 'human tragedy.'. . .'The police acted to do what they believed necessary to protect the lives of the public. This tragedy has added another victim to the toll of deaths for which the terrorists bear responsibility,' he said.'

After reading this, does it still sound like they are accepting responsibility? It makes me wonder if the officers responsible for this tragedy will be reprimanded in some way and/or what kind of restitution will be given to his family. I just hope that this keeps everyone from responding rashly.

This is where I found the article:

London 2

Andi wondered why I hadn't said anything about the latest problems in London. Well, yesterday I caught a glimpse of the headlines on AOL but thought that they might have been talking about before. Shawnna filled me in last night. My response, "Do they have any idea who they are messing with? The Empire will rise again and fight back." (It occurs to me that this remark could summon up Star Wars images but it wasn't meant to. More like you should have been seeing British soldiers like those out of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. lol) Anyway, I don't think that the intimidation tactics will work. Sure, the British public has been less than thrilled with Blair's choices and want out but bullying them into doing that may just have the opposite response. Our cousins across the pond are not so different from us on some things.

I was a bit shocked, however, over the shooting that occurred today. I too would like to hear the police explain their reasoning. From the article I read, if the man was truly dressed funny for the weather and considering the hyped up senses of Londoners, it's not a surprise that they would choose this method. I mean, come on, 70 degrees in London is like a fiesta day for light clothes. What disturbs me is that it sounds like they shot him after he was down on the ground. The only justification that I can think for this action would be if they thought he was going to blow himself up right there. So, while I am a little horrified at the implications of today's event, I am reserving judgment until I hear more details. I am such a Libra.

Well, Andi, hope you're happy with this response to it all. I'll try and write you a real email soon.

Which Classic Novel Do You Belong In?

Darling, it seems that you belong in Gone with the
Wind; the proper place for a romantic. You
belong in a tumultous world of changes and
opportunities, where your independence paves
the road for your survival. It is trying being
both a cynic and a dreamer, no?


Which Classic Novel do You Belong In?
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The Book Quiz retried

Ok, I decided to see what would happen if I answered the questions a little differently because there were two that could have gone either way depending upon the moment. However, I only got a repeat of two questions (one of which was one that could go either way). And here is what I got this time:

You're Watership Down!

by Richard Adams

Though many think of you as a bit young, even childish, you're actually incredibly deep and complex. You show people the need to rethink their
assumptions, and confront them on everything from how they think to where they
build their houses. You might be one of the greatest people of all time. You'd
be recognized as such if you weren't always talking about talking rabbits.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

The Book Quiz

Well, as Morgan blamed someone else for this, I'm gonna blame her. lol

Welcome to the BOOK QUIZ

Everyone loves internet quizzes. But so few of them offer the satisfaction of giving the quiz-taker a truly unique identity. Most of them yield a handful of results, almost never more than 10, without recognizing how different people really are. Here at , we have a novel solution. We're giving you a second quiz with real variety... with 64 (sixty-four) different possible outcomes! It's better than a Choose Your Own Adventure book!

Like the last time we did this, there are only 6 (six) questions that you need to answer to find your exact literary match! Rather than spending your entire day giving us details about yourself, we'll give you the details after getting just six responses from you.

Given that there are so few questions, please think carefully about each answer. We're about to put words in your mouth!

You're The Guns of August!

by Barbara Tuchman

Though you're interested in war, what you really want to know is what causes war. You're out to expose imperialism, militarism, and nationalism for what they really are. Nevertheless, you're always living in the past and have a hard time dealing with what's going on today. You're also far more focused on Europe than anywhere else in the world. A fitting motto for you might be "Guns do kill, but so can diplomats."


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Harry Potter and the Half-Dead Booksellers

So, by now those who braved the hordes of HP fans on Fri night have probably finished their book. I hope that the reading was as much fun as the anticipation of it. Have I read it yet? No. I have only read the first one. It's not that I don't like the world that Rowling created, or that I didn't enjoy the book, but I wanted to wait until she has them all out to read the rest. See, I determined a while ago that if I know that a series has a planned limit of books, I would wait until they are all out to enjoy them (like King's Dark Tower series). Why? Because I hate waiting forever between the books to get the next one. A year I can handle. But much more than that and I feel obliged to go back and reread everything so it's all fresh in my memory banks. Not that I don't have a good memory for things but I read so much that I would rather not chance getting confuzzled. Take Jean M. Auel's Earth Child series (Clan of the Cave Bear, etc.) for example. I read the first one when I was 14. There are 5 in the series so far and the last one came out 2 years ago (I believe). It took her like 10 years or so to come out with the last book.

Ok, I think that would be a long time for anyone between books and I know that's an extreme example, but it's why I wanted to wait on the HPs. Besides, I've noticed something kind of unique about the HP fans. . .no one has told me any major plot points that could ruin my enjoyment of reading them. You know how when people see a movie and just have to talk about it and inevitably ruin a major point for you? Somehow I've managed to avoid that with the HP world. However, I suspect that my luck will change if I wait for the last book to come out and I haven't read the rest. So, I may cave in and read them ahead of time. But I am so swamped right now that I don't know when I'll get a chance to do so anyway. Maybe I'll just wait until right before the next one is published. lol

Anyway, I got to work the HP night. Bought a general witch costume that I actually like quite a bit (worth the money) and will definitely wear for Halloween this year. Tony (the manager) went as Haggrid and a few of the temps dressed up. Rebecca (fellow co-worker/friend) also wore a general costume that she made for herself. The evening was a little boring in spots because those who were coming in for the "party" stayed away until late. And even then they mostly just wandered around. We didn't have as many people as I would have thought considering the number of reservations that we had. The one other store did better than us but I think that's because the mall they are in actually has a movie theatre attached to it. I suspect that parents took their kids to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and then to the book "party." They were also chosen to be shown on the news so that probably helped as well.

Most of our HP fans were adults. So, it was fairly calm. Tony decided that I would be in charge of handing out the books which meant that I was the first one to put a hand to a copy. We had strict orders that the boxes were not to be opened until after midnight. So, that was kind of cool. We did a countdown and everything. It was all pretty organized and we had people out by 1:30. We had a last minute guy come in for his copy at almost 2a but since I was just closing the gate behind Tony and Jessica (the assistant manager), I was able to sell him the book. Til Natalie and I got the store organized and everything counted, she left at 2:30a and I got out of there about 3a. It was a looooong day.

I wasn't supposed to be back into the store until 3p but Erin had called to say that she had a nasty migraine and wanted to know if anyone could come in early to relieve her if it was still hanging on. I was the only one that could so I wasn't surprised when she woke me up at 11:30a to ask if I would come in at 1:30p. Man was I tired. When I got in, everyone was tired. We stayed pretty busy until about 7p and then died down. We were dragging but not too badly. I think that most of the diehard fans were home reading the book. And I think that we had way too much competition from places like Walmart for us to stay swamped. I also wasn't feeling very well which didn't help matters but I had off yesterday and today and will chill some more tomorrow. So, I should be all good.

The whole thing felt anticlimactic pretty quickly. I've found that I enjoy the anticipation of events a lot more than the events themselves for the most part. Not always but a lot of time anyway. Then again, I didn't have any real personal investment in this event other than as a bookseller so that could be why in this case. I heard a figure of 6.5 million copies were sold within the first 24 hours. That is just insane. Good day for publishing but I wonder if there will ever be anything as big as this again (besides the last book). But when there is a next time, I think I'll safely stay home instead of being infected and turned into the living dead.

London

So terribly sad. I can't say that I was all that shocked. Poor London gets hit a lot. As my friend, Valerie (who is also American), put it. . ."My beautiful city has been scarred again by violence -- I just want to cry." I agree. But London is a tough old bird. I'm glad that, while they are terrible, the numbers of the dead and the wounded aren't worse. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone harmed in some way by this new atrocity.

This has done nothing to quell my desire to revisit my favorite city. My sense of London withdrawal (it's been two years since I was there) is still strong. And I can't wait to go again.

I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up

Ok, you know how there are certain phrases which have become a part of our culture? Take the one above. For those of you who don't know, it's the catchphrase for an old commercial. The ad was for a device that would let the elderly alert a service that they were in trouble. These words were spoken by this elderly woman who had fallen and could't get up. Now, maybe it's because the commercial was low budget and so the acting was less than convincing. Maybe we had just become too cynical or hardened against such sights. Whatever, the phrase quickly became a joke. Heck, I've used it a time or two myself. We just don't think much about what they could really mean in reality.

On Friday night, my 83-year-old aunt (yes, the one in PA I wrote about) fell down and couldn't get up. She doesn't know why she fell. And apparently she wasn't strong enough to push herself up. So, she dragged herself to the kitchen for a flashlight so she could see the phone to call someone. Why she chose the neighbors instead of out home, who knows. But they came up and helped her into bed. She was ok on Saturday until she took a bath. For some reason, she couldn't get out of the tub. This was 4p. Well, a few years ago, I'd bought her a cordless phone so that she could carry it with her in case such things happened. Did she have the phone with her? No, of course not. So, in the tub she sat and waited, hoping someone would come by. She stayed like that until Sunday morning. By that time, her leg had swollen up. The friend who takes her to church came by and she was able to make herself heard. He managed to help her out of the tub and then went out to the farm on his way to church.

My nephew, Daniel, went out to her house and, with the neighbor's help again, got her to her bed. The neighbor called for an ambulance because the leg looked icky. Jami, who had come up to hang out with the fam, came over with Cynthia and they stayed for a little while. Daniel rode with her to the hospital. Well, turned out that she was suffering from dehydration and cellulitis in the leg. Other than that, she's fine. No obvious reasons for why she's having problems.

Well, we have a few speculations. One, she is getting on in years. Couple that with her tendency not to eat much (she weighs 110 pounds and her 5'1 frame has shrunk to 4'11) and take a bedtime sleeping pill with a whiskey chaser. . .and I think you can see why. Yes, we've nagged her about these things. Doesn't do much good. So, now she is in the hospital and they are keeping her until they decide that she is well enough again. She has had physical therapy to help her walk better (she took 23 steps today) but she still isn't eating much. She admits that she is a picky eater and hospital food, well, we all know how truly gourmet that is. So, we'll see.

At any rate, it made me think about the phrase because when she was telling me about what happened, I couldn't help but hear that line as a joke. Only now, doesn't really seem all that funny. And yet, it still does. Why? Probably because she is all right now. Or maybe I am just too numb to such happenings in my family. Most likely it's because my family has a warped sense of humor and tend to laugh in times of crisis. . .especially when they are momentarily over.

Interlude 2

Ok, so you want to know what I have been doing since the slumber party that has kept me too busy to write? Well, working, of course.

Tony (manager) was gone for almost two weeks because he had vacation and then ended up with strep throat. Don't know what the relationship is of the two things but it meant getting extra hours. Plus teaching. So, June was a very hectic month. I did have a small break two weekends ago and went up to Charlotte to hang with Mary and Kyle. After lunch, Mary and I went to see Mr. and Mrs. Smith and it was better than I expected. I expected it to be like The War of The Roses (with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner) but it wasn't. It was so much better than that. Good dialogue. Plot is a bit thin but it doesn't have to have a lot to it for the kind of movie that it is. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt definitely have chemistry together. They did a great job. Good boost for their careers. Glad to see that the hoopla about the offscreen stuff hasn't hurt the movie because it really is worth the time and money.

Afterward I wandered around one of the malls to kill time until Kyle got off from work or Chris was home to meet me. (Ok, I should note this for people now. . .this is Kyle #2, the southern Kyle, not to be mistaken for Kyle #1, the northern Kyle I grew up with. And Chris is Kyle's bf.) Got to their house and later we went to dinner at one of their friend's houses. That was a nice dinner. Very comfy and friendly. Very relaxing. I ended up driving home cause Kyle and Chris felt free to have beers. They probably could have driven home but this was safer. Of course, next time, I'm driving anyway cause I hate driving Kyle's jeep. lol

The next day Kyle and I (and a friend of his. . .I so suck at names) went to lunch and to see The Longest Yard. That was pretty decent too. Really want to see the original with Burt Reynolds now. Loved him when I was growing up and I can so see him chewing up the scenery in the movie. I bought the soundtrack and it's pretty decent if you like rap. Makes me get the urge to turn up the bass in my car. lol

And that was pretty much it for the time off. I've been working since then and been tired. But I am catching up on rest and cleaning. So, that's all good. If anything exciting happens or I have any thoughts for y'all, I'll write again soon.

Slumber Party

Ok, so, slumber parties are not just for kids. Did you know that? Well, I got to do my first girlie one a few weekends ago. Yeah, I know I'm behind again. Sue me. Anyway, Samantha invited me to hang with her and some friends at Angela Knight's house. Angela is a published erotic romance writer. I have linked her site to the blog so you can check her out. We have her books at the store and I recommend her whenever I can. Her books sell pretty well on their own too. lol

I worked during the day. I hadn't expected to do more than meet up with the girls for dinner but when Sam called me, she said that I needed to pack a bag. So, I had to run home and grab some stuff so I could spend the night and have a change of work clothes for the following day. Angela lives a little over an hour away from Columbia. It's a decent drive. . .lots of green. Her house is very big and comfy. Very nice place out in a sparse community. There are neighbors but you wouldn't know it because everyone has a decent amount of space.

Everyone had brought something for a potluck dinner. I didn't have anything because I didn't have time to stop for something and it sounded like everything was covered. Poor visitor I am but I was not expecting to go to her house. Ah, well, should get in a habit of keeping bottles of wine handy like when I lived in France. Anyway, was introduced around to Angela, her husband, her son, Sam's friend, Morgan (who is also linked on here), and two other ladies (sorry, I forget their names but they were very nice).

By now I'm sure that you're curious to know what erotic romance writers look like. Are they eccentric? Weird? Ooze sex? lol Well, yes to maybe just the first question. I say maybe because I don't think I know anyone who isn't eccentric to some point. Otherwise, you could look at the ladies and not see anything different about them from everyone else. It was a very comfy and fun atmosphere. All of the women are intelligent and witty. It was a very good time. Wish I hadn't been so tired but I think they forgave me that. Angela's husband barbecued food for us and it was yummy. We settled down to watch an odd assortment of movies (some GB flicks, some others) and chatter away. Got to learn some things about the romance business.

Morgan and I hit it off and I hope that I get to see her again soon. Angela has been trying to get her to publish in NY. Right now, Morgan lives off of her ebook publications. She has quite a few. She lives writing. That is so cool. Morgan comes off as a somewhat caustic character but I think that has to do with her intelligence and intensity. She makes me look mellow. lol It would be interesting to see her and Jami in the same room together. Don't know that those two would get along but us other strong-willed female types would look like Ellie Mays by comparison. Morgan was very helpful with writing tips and some theory tips. I really need to sit down and read the stuff she's sent me! Argh. Maybe that's what I'll do tonight when I am done with this update.

Anyway, went to bed somewhere between 2-3a but didn't fall asleep until 4a. Yeah, I know. Part of it was that they had the Phantom movie on in the background. I would wake up in time to see the GB parts and then drift into a light doze. Had some very bizarre dreams. Too much mental stimuli. In the morning, Angela's husband made us breakfast (yummmm). Angela and I talked about her coming to the store for a book signing. I've since contacted the peeps I need to about permission but have yet to hear the ok from corporate. But there shouldn't be a problem. I would have liked to have stayed longer but I had to work at one of the other stores because they were all off at Carowinds. I have done smarter things than work on very little sleep and still getting over a cold. lol But it was worth the effort. I'm glad that I met them all.

Interlude

Well, the next day Jami and I went to Atlantic City. It was ok but I was really sick again. Worn out from everything and my body was so not happy with me. So, we just headed back to Alan's. I was supposed to meet up with my friend, Ken, but I was just too ill. I tried calling him but didn't get a person. I've been so busy since then that I haven't even emailed. Sheesh. Where is my brain. Hope he reads this and forgives me.

I came back here and proceeded to work like a fiend.

Did get a little bit of a fun time the following Saturday and that is what will be published in the next installment. Maybe tomorrow before work.

Philly Tart Convention

Yeah, yeah, Sam. . .I'm posting as fast I can. Trying to find the energy.

So, anyway, that Saturday (the 6th, I believe) I woke up early and headed down to Philly. Now, I should mention that I got a message from someone the night before about getting a ride into Philly. See, a few of us (who had never met) had decided to go and see GB's soccer movie, The Game of Their Lives, in Warrington since it had finally come in there. I had already seen it twice in Charlotte but figured it would be fun to go again and thus meet some of the girls before the party. Anyway, the girl who needed a ride lived nearby. I mailed her back with my cell # so she could call me in the morning. No calls while I was driving down.

Jami and I had decided to meet up at her mom's house but I was running late (shocker there) and so we went straight to the theatre. Got some pretzel bites cause I hadn't eaten more than yogurt and a breakfast bar. Met up with a few of the tarts and we all settled in to enjoy the movie. Now, one of the tarts and I had spoken on the phone a few times. With my cold and everything, my voice was deeper than usual, etc. She was surprised when she saw me because, as she put it, "I don't want to offend you but I thought that you were black!" (she is) lol Why would I be offended? Not at all. Amused though. I am so the opposite that everyone has laughed about it. It was all good.

Jami and I broke from the others so that we could go to her boyfriend's, Alan, apartment and change. He lives in the city. Well, on the way, the stranded tart called and said that she could go but needed a ride. Well, I tried to get Jami's attention to get her pulled over but she was clueless. Finally I called her cell but it was too late to turn back because we were on the turnpike by this point. Traffic was horrendous. The girl begged and pleaded. . .talked to Jami about it. . .and after much debate, Jami said that she would go back for the girl. She felt bad for her cause she sounded like she really wanted to go. Well, so did I but I also didn't want to miss the party. See, the problem for me was that even though I went to school in the area, I don't know it as well as Jami. And trying to find the girl. . .get her. . .get downtown. . .that was just too much for my brain to handle with being ill. I think that I was running on sheer adrenaline. But Jami, bless her, had no problem with helping the poor girl. So, we split up and I made it to the party a little late.

It was no problem getting to Dave and Busters (where it was held) and I splurged on valet parking because I wasn't sure about that whole situation. Very glad I did because I think going in circles in the parking garage would have made me sick (it did later when Jami drove me outside). Found the room with no problem. Suzanne, one of the site moderators, was keeping an eye out for me and we managed to meet up pretty easily. We had never seen wach other before but had spoken on the phone. She's great. . .quite hysterical and an all around nice person. So is Ally, one of the other mods with whom I had been writing. It didn't seem odd at all to be meeting up with them. It was like old friends reuniting. Very cool. Suzanne had brought her young daughter (I believe she is ten). A very precocious and darling girl.

The dinner and events started shortly after I arrived. I managed to talk with the organizer of the event and she was happy that I had remembered to bring a copy of Sam's GB videos as well as copies of various GB tv interviews. These and other people's played in the background as we ate and talked. Dinner was ok. I couldn't taste anything so I can't say more than that. There was a raffle after dinner but I didn't really win anything. There were a lot of cool prizes and things. I got an extra gift bag which I later gave to the girl Jami fetched.

Ok, a few weeks ago, Andrew Loyd Webber auctioned off articles from the POTO movie on ebay. Nothing that GB touched went for less than $2000. You heard me right. Well, one of the tarts had purchased a good bit of the items: a pair of shoes, a pair of gloves, a mask, and the one black cape. She also bought the quilt that another tart had made as a charity item (the money went to some charity in GB's and the site's names). The woman kindly brought all of these items with her and patiently held them up for us to take pictures. Then we got to pose with the cape wrapped around us. That was incredibly generous of her. So, Ally and I posed and had fun with that. We also posed with the "Flat Gerry" -- a cardboard cutout of him. That was just for the heck of it.

Jami and the lost tart finally showed up over an hour and a half after I got there. So, it was good I didn't go along because I would have missed stuff.

One of the other highlights was seeing a student film that GB had been in years ago. The Jewel of the Sahara is very tongue in cheek. It's also a very bad film and we were roaring. GB did a good job and I honestly don't know how he kept a straight face through it. Jami said that it was worth all of the aggravation just to see it (she is not a tart). Eventually Jami left to hang out elsewhere because she was getting tired of all the GB talk. Actually, if she had just stayed, she would have realized that Ally, Suzanne, and I were talking about other things too. lol But it was ok. The four of us (add in Suzanne's daughter) were actually the last to leave the room because we were having fun talking. Eventually the staff chased us out so they could clean up the room.

And so we went back to Alan's and crashed. I was exhausted but happy to have met Ally and Suzanne face to face. Makes being friends more real somehow.

Anne's Graduation Day

Yes, I know, it's been two weeks since my last confession. . .lol. Ok, the past two weeks have been insanely crazy (am I allowed to use those two words together?). So, I'll take this in chunks and try and catch you up to speed since I know that some of you are dying to hear.

We'll start with my trip home to PA. Because I was so sick, I didn't go up the day before my niece's graduation. I woke up early instead to drive up to be there in time. Actually, I only got about three hours of sleep. Had made a CD of Sam's GB videos the night before and watched some while I ate some yogurt. Man, they were better than caffeine. Some were so funny! Somehow I managed not to get tired for the whole drive. I'll blame it on caffeine and antibiotics. lol The only annoying thing was that there was road destruction 6 miles before the last highway I needed. Took me over an hour to go that distance. Got home just in time to change and pick up my friend, Jami, who had come up from Philly.

By the time we got there. . .my head was so stuffed that I could only half hear and climbing the bleachers was so much fun! I so do not recommend climbing metal bleachers when your equalibrium. . .oh, wait, drunk spectators do it all the time. Nevermind. I got to see my great niece, Grace, (Anne's daughter) for the first time and she is adorable. Looks just like her momma.

The ceremony was just as boring as I remembered from when I'd sat on the other end 16 years ago. Damn, saying it like that makes me feel old. They haven't changed the format any though there are a lot of scholarships, etc., that we didn't have. The speeches were painful. . .couldn't help but grade them in my head (I teach public speaking). There were some good parts but mostly I wanted them to stop. lol At least none of them said, "20 years ago. . ." and then proceed to tell us about what happened to them for almost each of those twenty years. That was our guest speaker in 1989. The chorus was so off key. I turned to Brenda (my sis-in-law, John's wife) and asked if we had sounded that bad back then. She pled the fifth. Great.

The ceremony started a little after 6p. We managed to get out of the parking lot and to the restaurant (chosen by my aunt) by 9:30ish. She so should have chosen a different place because it was packed. Food was good but took forever. Sat next to my aunt (who is 83) and she did her usual routine of getting my name and my niece's backwards. Been doing it a long time. There are some things that Anne does which echo things that I used to do so we're used to it. But I could only let it go on so long. Why? Well, at one point Sissy (my father used to call her Sis so we adopted this nickname since she didn't want to be Aunt Gladys) looked at me and said, "Where's your mother?" She was referring to Brenda, of course. I looked at my brother, John, and we had a moment of understanding. Now, I could have pointed out to her for the billionth time that I was Lynn and not Anne but that never seems to work. So I went for shock value. I replied, "My mother is dead. That's Brenda." She paused, looked flustered, but then it sunk in. A little brutal but hey, the message got through. She did keep referring to Grace as an it though even after I asked, "Why do you keep calling her an it? She's a her. . .a she. . .she has a gender! She is out of the womb and there is no more puzzlement over the sex?!?" She didn't have an answer for that. lol

Anyway, I survived it. Kicked the other niece, Cynthia, out of her bed so I could have somewhere to sleep. Invoked the right of the elder relative. lol She didn't mind. Slept ok but woke up with an active brain and wrote some poetry. Friday was a pretty bland day. . .rainy and cool. Jami returned to Philly but I stayed the night at the farm. Didn't do much but write an essay and rest. Oh, and we had a girl powwow around the tv and watched Gerry interviews and Phantom of the Opera. Cindi wasn't going to but she got hooked. I think that I have turned her into a tart. lol That's cool. We can be insane together. Oh, wait, we're Kramers, too late.

next installment. . .Philly tart convention

Secrets

Wow. . .Samantha posted this link on her blog, which she got on another person's blog. It really is an amazing site:

http://www.postsecret.blogspot.com/

It really makes you think.

Did Someone Get That Plate #?

Ok, I feel like I've been hit by a truck. I hate this freaking state because I never had allergies until I moved here. They have been especially bad for us transplants lately and mine have turned in a nice infection. Perfect timing since I was going to drive up to PA tomorrow for my niece's graduation on Thursday. No way that is gonna happen when it hurts to blink. You know it's bad when your eyeballs hurt. Guess I'll just leave early on Thursday. Yes, I did go to the doctor and got some good meds that should kick this puppy outta me. That and I need some sleep. Sounds like a good idea so I'm gonna go do that. Cheers.

Memorial Day

Ok, so, I was wondering what I could say today. And then I got to thinking about how tomorrow is Memorial Day and how Samantha mentioned the war on her blog. . . . At first I was going to say something in tribute for all of our armed forces personnel. But then I thought, well, there is a lot of that. I do appreciate all of the work that they do and I am very proud to teach a speech class at the army base here in Columbia (Fort Jackson). My current students are all great and 98% of them are military personnel. My thoughts wandered over the whole meaning of Memorial Day and how it can also be for something more personal. . .a time to remember those you love. So, I thought that I would combine those two ideas into a little mini tribute to my three older brothers. Our father had given each of my brothers the choice between college or military after high school. They each chose a branch of the military and so I thought that I would share with you all their boot camp graduation photos of a time long ago when they wanted to serve their country.


John 1980

John is 10.5 years older than me. He had really wanted to go into the Air Force and be a pilot but he has an astigmatism and so they wouldn't take him. So, his next choice was the Marines and he shipped off for Parris Island, SC, a year after graduation. I didn't get to go to this one because my parents didn't want to pull me out of school (he graduated in September). But they apparently had a great time. I remember my mother saying how shocked she was at the change in John: he'd gone from long hair and laissez-faire to buzz cut and disciplined. He kept calling her ma'am and her response was, "I am not a ma'am, I am your mother!" lol Of course, she did like it that some of his buddies couldn't believe that she was old enough to be his mother. John almost ended up in Beirut (I believe that was where) but a bombing occurred at the place where they were to be stationed and so he stayed in the States. He was stationed in Yuma, AZ, but the constant running took a toll on his knees and he ended up with a medical discharge. I am fairly sure that John would have made a good career out of it otherwise.


Chuck 1981

Chuck (named Charles like our father but he needed a nickname to avoid confusion) went right into the Navy after he graduated. In fact, he was part of the PA Governer's special unit (or something like that) and we went to Harrisburg to see him sworn in before he was shipped off to Orlando for boot camp. Chuck basically went through a similar training that you'll find in the movie, An Officer and a Gentleman. I got to go to his graduation ceremony but don't really remember much of it other than being impressed with the soldiers dress and skills and the ceremony. What I remember most is my first trip to Disney World because Chuck took me on all of the scary rides (Space Mountain, etc. -- give me a break, I was ten). He soon began his long career (he is still in) of hopping around the globe. I still have all of the letters that he ever wrote to me. And those from his wife, Lolita (we call her Jane), whom he met through some friends in the Philippines. Chuck also went to college but I think that the Navy is his true career. After all, he keeps reinlisting. He did go to the Gulf for Desert Storm and has been over to visit the troops for the current war over there but he is not in the line of fire. Currently stationed in Guam, I have no idea when he will join us civvies back here.


James 1983

Chuck was so happy with the Navy that I think Jim decided to follow suit. I would have to ask someone else what his reasoning had really been for the Navy but you can tell by the picture that he seemed happy with the choice at the time. Unlike some extreme changes in John and Chuck, Jim seemed to stay pretty much the same. I think that this was probably what caused him to be unsure about a military career in the long run. I do know that he had an incident when he was on a ship. . .there was some kind of wreck and his ship had to transport the bodies of those lost. Jim got duty over watching the bodies and whole situation was very traumatic for him. He fulfilled his 4 years and was a civvie for a while but he did give the military life another try. Unfortunately, it wasn't much better for him the second time. He just didn't have the same mentality as Chuck to pursue the Navy as a career nor did he take advantage of the chance for a college education. But I know that if he had been needed somewhere to fight, he would have gone. He was proud to have served and to have followed in his big brothers' footsteps.

I am proud of my brothers for serving in the military. I am glad that none of them has been on any front lines (Chuck has come the closest to such action) like our Uncle Bill who served two tours in Vietnam or our Uncle Irvin who served in WWII. Our uncles probably helped influence my brothers into their military over college choices. Our father didn't join because he was asthmatic but he did instill in all of us a sense of pride and loyalty. I had thought that I would follow Chuck into the Navy at one point and be an MP or a JAG but, in the end for various reasons, I obviously went the college route. They are encouraging their children to pursue either course (military and/or college) and are doing their best to pass on the values and lessons that they have learned in the military. Can I get a Hoorah for our troops?

Yawn

It's late and my nightowl self is just not hopping along. Tony asked me to switch shifts with him so he could pick his wife up early from the airport and I was cool with that. So, it's been a long day for me since I was up at 8a (and got home at 11:30p last night from work). I didn't have an 8hr shift because we were soooooo dead. So, I wandered the mall -- something I haven't done in months. There's a new store that has really cool clothes and I found some neat stuff. Actually treated myself to a cool top for when I go to Philly next weekend. It's a really great green. . .bustier-type bodice with straps. Gonna look even better when I get my hair done on Monday. ;o)

Anyway, must work again tomorrow so I'll try and think of something fun for here to write about. Right now my brain is too fried and I need sleep. Hugs.

Lost Friends

Well, this little musing is going to take a slightly different turn than I had expected when I woke up this morning. You see, last night I sent this blog link to all of my friends (it's a daunting number and one reason I gave into such a public display of myself) and family. One "friend" has me blocked from sending her emails. Why this surprised me, I don't know since we haven't talked for months and things were not going well when we stopped communicating. The story is a long one and one that most people in my life know. For those of you who don't, suffice it to say that we were friends for 11 years but near the end (for now I must think of it as truly ended), there were obstacles that neither of us could get past to allow us to continue being friends like we were.

I have heard that, as adults, we are lucky to have one or two really close friends with whom we can share everything. As kids we would call them our best friends. I have never completely liked that phrase unless I could say, "one of my best friends," because I consider myself to have more than one who fits in that category. I won't even try and list them here because I know that I would forget someone and tick them off. lol I am constantly fascinated with how human relationships work (hence it showing up in my dissertation, a subject for another day). Each and every one of my friendships is precious to me and they are all unique even though some have similarities of context. I tend to hold on to friends for as long as I can. And I never forget anyone even when there has been no contact for a while.

If you look at the comments from the last entry, you'll see two names. Samantha is my newest friend and I already consider her a dear one. We are still testing out the waters but have discovered a lot of connections. It's fun. The other is Rose. We went to high school together (my God, has it been 16 years since we graduated?!?) and have managed to remain good friends even though we tend to fall off the face of the earth every now and then. But when we reconnect, it's always as if the time never went by. One or both of us apologizes for being slack, we catch up, and we move on with where we are. No worries. I have gotten used to that because most of the people in my life are always elsewhere. (I'll do an email tangent another time.)

Anyway, I thought that was what was going on with the other friend. Even though we'd been having problems, I thought we'd just stepped away from each other for a while because of various things. Guess I was wrong. It makes me sad. I could push the issue but I'll let her go since that is what she seems to want. At least I have memories -- good and bad -- to cherish even if I have lost the friend.

Caption Game

You know. . .I really don't recommend getting hyper at midnight. Doesn't help with the sleep process when you have to get up early the next day. Of course, talking about what made you hyper at such an hour can help keep you awake when work is boring. What was so fun last night? Well, read the first blog and you'll have an idea. Sam and I were having a rip roaring time amusing each other. What is the contest? Our favorite fansite (for Gerard Butler) has something that they call the Caption Game. The object is to take one of the listed pics of GB and add a funny caption. Well, the admin has decided that the site is going to host a contest for this ( if you go to the GB.net link, you'll see). Let me see if I can link you an example below:


(in a Jamaican accent) "First you got to bat yo eyes like dis. You have to pucker up yo lips like dis. . ." (frogs sing. . .shalalala you gotta kiss de girl)

Ok, not my best one but it was the first ever that I created. I may include more later. Sam also has one on her blog that's pretty funny.

Anyway, today was loooong. For those who don't know, I have a part-time job in a bookstore. Pretty cool. Well, the manager, Tony, asked me to work this morning so he wouldn't have to work a double because he gave the assistant manger, Jessica, off for her bday (isn't he sweet?). I had ordered a cake for her before I knew this so, after he got in, I rushed to get some lunch, buy the cake, and get back to meet up with her and some of our co-workers. I got the cake from a Publix grocery store. Let me tell you. . .it was beautiful. If you look them up on the web, they have a whole thing where you can set up what you want on your cake and print it out so you can just give them the info. Very cool. I got her the basket weave cake (white basket). It was kind of like one that Jessica thought was cool in a wedding cake book. Then I rushed to teach class (my main job for USC when I'm not in PhD student mode) and that went well. Heard some interesting speeches (it's a basic public communications course). Didn't think I would last but it's all good. Obviously, if I'm up late again (get used to it, I'm a night owl. . .hence morning work is ugh to me). Now I am writing to you while listening to my friends, Shawnna and Beth speak on the phone (modern technology is great. . .threeway calling. . .get your mind out of the gutter). Of course, now we are talking about one-night stands. . .but I'll save that for another day.

Welcome

Hi, all. Obviously this is my very first post. I have been trying to decide what to write for this opening and just cannot come up with something ultra witty. I would like to thank my friend, Samantha Reynolds, for introducing me to blogging. I would have procrastinated more about posting but she's been bugging me. We are currently on the phone trying to come up with entries for a contest. Creativity at its best. . .late at night. I cannot guarantee any kind of coherency between posting subjects or daily entries but I will try my best on the latter. Overall, I hope you enjoy this blog and my ramblings. If nothing else, I hope you are amused. Cheers.