We got up ass early for the moon and put on actual clothes and walked down the road… and nothing. Too much fog and cloud cover to see a damn thing. When we crawled back into bed, I slept for another hour plus… giving me a grand total of nearly Read more…
I am all motivated to get up at zero dark early to see this eclipse–I wish I’d unpacked the spotting scope, but our things are still a jumble. I also wish I had the money to excavate the patio and put in the foundation for my shed, but it looks Read more…
I spent an hour tonight writing a long and detailed response to a student which could be boiled down to “IT’S IN THE SYLLABUS.” But I tried to put myself in the student’s shoes, while also clearly expressing expectations that future questions be answered just a smidge more self-sufficiently. I Read more…
I’ve been working (and reworking) this essay, and it has required that I think a lot about why I classify certain genres (of music, movies, television, culture) as inherently dumb. Or, as leaning more toward thoughtlessness and less toward thoughtfulness. Those classifications are all based on some rational assessments (clichés, Read more…
Tonight, while having dinner with friends, one of whom I’ve known since high school, the topic of people who demand the spotlight came up. These are the folks who steal other people’s moments or make up tall tales to be the best-most. And then I told a story about being Read more…
One of the books I’d bought at Powell’s last night was Panther by Brecht Evens. It is a gorgeously illustrated work–a piece of fiction, to be sure. A comic? A graphic tale? Anyway, it starts out as a lovely, if sad story about a little girl with an imaginary friend Read more…
I went to Powell’s tonight and heard two essayists read and then talk for a bit about essays. Elena Passarello read from Animals Strike Curious Poses and Jesse Donaldson read from On Homesickness: A Plea. MAN DO I MISS TALKING ABOUT ESSAYS! Some people do that on FB, and I Read more…
my specific interactions with students the reasons that I cried a couple of times today why/why not I might actual be a better teacher this year than last year all the things I need to write essays about Can’t or won’t, though? I am usually an over-sharer, but sometimes the boundaries Read more…
I watched the entirety of The Decline of Western Civilization II: The Metal Years today and I think I am just a little bit dumber. But, it brought up some interesting ideas about truth and documentaries, and then I watched a wild interview with the director, Penelope Spheeris, from before Read more…
Two things. I learned this tidbit today: language may shape how we make moral decisions. And, I am going to choose an “exercise” related goal for my next better than goal. Part of it will include doing a set of exercise that this magazine I just bought assures me will Read more…