Wednesday, October 31, 2007

all hallows

but not too much extraordinary. Reading Jefferson comparing the relative size and fortitude of quadrapeds of the new and old worlds. Reading about the bardic tradition in English poetry. This morning, fittingly, reading 30 papers evaluating horror movie reviews. Finally watching Seven Up and Seven Plus Seven...five more to go, though I saw 42 Up in the theater in PDX. Vanessa tells an anecdote about a man wielding a chainsaw at Nick's then locates my fame and marriage lines. Chris comes over to share pizza and give out treats to the few trick-or-treaters, a ragtag mangy bunch of mostly too-old or out-too-lates. The best costume is the small ghost of a Titanic drowned boy, complete with ineffectual life preserver. Sirens. And the oddest coincidence - Stove and I have both written Donner party sonnets! Now, there's that lonely freight train whistle telling me it's time for bed.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Semiotic Tranquility

I -did- see the Dalai Lama. For free, which was nice. Tibeten monks' robes make them look like marigolds, which I'm sure is no groundbreaking observation. Unfortunately, there was no mandala making or throat singing. Lots of talk about various kinds of meditation. I like that the Dalai Lama wears glasses, uses kleenex from a little plastic pack, pulls sunvisors out of his satchel and dons them, and scratches his face while speaking. I do not like how sleepy I feel, but that is not to be helped. Perhaps I will attempt critical analysis, which according to the Dalai Lama, is a form of meditation, in my French class. Bon soir!

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

think/know

I think I only HAVE to take one course next semester. I think I can read French well enough to get by. I know I miss my writing. I think I'll be able to return to it this weekend. I know the Dalai Lama is in town and I think I may go try to hear him speak. I think I may be able to AI for a children's lit class next semester. I know I need to get serious leaving.

Monday, October 22, 2007

nobody can look well without taking some pains to please

Fall blew in all wet and leafy today. It matched my mood. I would like to squirrel myself away. I have started leaving my ringer off. It's better to watch for the blinking light. I've decided my concentration is the 20th C. novel. I would like to be contributing more. I would like to not have a slippery carpet under my feet. I would like to wake myself up in the middle of the night laughing.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

long time no post

I'm going to try to get up on this blogging thing again, particularly given that the next year is likely to bring many rapid changes.

So, I'm just back from my aunt's funeral and my cousin's baby shower. Doves were released, seven-course Italian dinners were eaten, 5 hams were received in the mail, ersatz poop in the form of melted candy bars in diapers were identified, photographs were ogled, and togetherness was had. It was a hard few days, an important few days. The best line of the funeral goes to my cousin Karen: "My mom was a piece of work." May we all be.

Now I return to reading Belinda by Maria Edgeworth. Proto-Jane Austen. Thusfar, I've gotten to the bit where women duel with pistols, while dressed in men's clothing. I have to present on the transatlantic romanticness of this book on Tuesday. Wish me luck these next few days. Maybe after that I'll remember I'm a writer again.