Monday, July 26, 2021
Sunday, July 25, 2021
some more (travel)
Once more into the skies and on to D.C. where a long postponed conference-workshop awaits.
Saturday, July 17, 2021
building
A normal kind of day--normal chores, normal outings.
Went to check on the Arboretum's yearly peacock display with L before the rest of the family woke up. I love the purple spikes they've added to the begonias this year.
And yes, it's syllabus building time again.
Sunday, May 30, 2021
reentry
But that's probably for the best. Today I (zoom) attended the feminist book club after a hiatus. I remembered that the last time I was here, I bolted because I had a mystery panic attack.
As EM said earlier today, it's "weird to be around other people." Even for me--living with a lovely houseful and having taught in person all year long--agoraphobia seems to manifest every time I consider an event/interaction/outing. Yesterday I hiked with Big A and didn't wear a mask. I had been persuaded by pronouncements that outdoor transmission is highly unlikely (+ did not want to stand out like a freak). But it took some stern talking to myself. And even admitting I enjoyed being maskless outdoors feels odd somehow. But I did, so there.
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
not/normal
It's close to 2 am, and I'll (have to) be up again at 6 to get Nu ready (chat, cuddle, breakfast) for (online) school.
Tuesday, May 18, 2021
perspective
He was famous/semi-famous, and I expect the case was media fodder in the UK for a while. I feel awful that I've sometimes used his early English music ensembles in classes... I will not do this again.
(Pic is of our only east-facing window; I wish we had more. The tradescantia and pothos cuttings I pinched off and stuck into candleholders have rooted and are taking off. Funny how that works.)
Monday, May 17, 2021
focus
Lots of stuff going on--including working in my office, office visits at various doctors etc., but a walk with JG and a porch hang with KB and... hours of jabber and banter are the points I want to remember from today.
(Spot the bunny in the picture!)
Friday, May 14, 2021
plot twist
It got better when Nu got their first shot of the Pfizer vaccine at a drive-through clinic excellently organized by MI state and operated by some lovely people from the National Guard.
It got even better when the U of M adolescent gender services clinic called to set up an appointment for us next Friday.
And then like an absolute champion, I got all the student letters of recommendation I was working on--off to students/universities/programs.
It was when I was sending out those letters that I realized I had somehow missed the faculty meeting that was noted in my calendar and my online scheduler.
Whoops.
Friday, May 07, 2021
"even doves have pride"
First business appointment today was Zoom court, where JL's PPO (personal protection order) against their stalker ex was upheld and extended. Abusers are really their own worst enemies--the judge was visibly deprecating of his disrespect and narcissism (I was too).
Some committee work + paperwork + unfinished business... Then a lovely, supportive, mentoring all-women meeting. We're opening up the previously faculty-only group to staff and admin; I want to get athletics, facilities/janitorial, and our catering staff involved too!
A kind shoutout from Mel at Stirrup Queens, a heads-up that an old poem had been published in The Scriblerus Spring Issue, and a Google scholar alert about an essay that was picked for an anthology and is now in print round off the writing updates for the week.
____________________________
Pic: Two weeks or so ago, our cherry blossoms at their peak.
Wednesday, May 05, 2021
"maybe I'm just too demanding"
Got grades done yesterday; long meetings today; all-day meetings with the Board of Trustees tomorrow; multiple meetings Friday. My annual faculty update is due next month. I'd better find a way to set boundaries and make summer writing work for me if I don't want a repeat of last year's lost summer.
Monday, May 03, 2021
promise
Thursday, April 29, 2021
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
"make me a channel"
Otherwise a busy, busy, busy day with meetings starting at 8 am and student grading, consultations, and some cheerleading/handholding throughout.
Because I was personally in a funk (™my dad) last week, I forgot to say how proud I am of my students who did a wonderful job with the WGS symposium and then over-performed on Honors Day despite all the pandemic-inherent obstacles. Hearing their idealistic and confident descriptions of why their humanities research was important made me tear up more than once. And one of my sponsees took the humanities Kapp Prize.
AK wrote me: You know your students today were rock-stars right? Your light as a teacher has clearly lit them up as well. While that's clearly a kind overstatement, and I don't want to take away from my students' clear sense of agency and genius--it nevertheless made me feel like I was doing good in this world. Even if only as an intermediary.
Thursday, April 08, 2021
tiny hellos
A long day of teaching, lots of individual conferences checking in on student research projects, and very little time for admin stuff that needs doing.
Tomorrow is another day.
A quick visit to At to drop off groceries and measure his chest (for a birthday present).
LOTS of hugs.
Back home, Big A's poke for dinner, and a snuggly semi-sleepover with Nu, Scout, and Huck.
(Meaning--I'm supposed to be watching Umbrella Academy with Nu, but I fall asleep ten minutes in. The show is good, it's just that I'm tired.)
Wednesday, April 07, 2021
tiny observation
all the budding--
insane: email says everyone
Thursday, April 01, 2021
Bigotry Farm
I haven't been able to find the name of this farm on 127N, but I've been calling it "Bigotry Farm" in my head for ages.
Seeing those signs on my way to work gives me anxiety every time. Seeing the progression of misogyny from L to R sometimes gives me a chuckle--sometimes. The flashing sign with bonkers messages makes me sad/angry/sob.
People know what I mean when I mention this place, but I wasn't able to find a good shot of the signs, so I pulled over and took this one.
I could use this in a rhetoric class?
Tuesday, March 30, 2021
Of pens and pizza and other not so little things
Before I left for home, however--a personal visit, a handwritten note of congratulations, and a luxe pen from the college. Somehow they even managed to engrave my very long, doubly hyphenated name on it.
Somedays, it's the not-so-little things and immense kindness that do me in.
And then Big A's pizza for dinner. It's impossible to not feel so loved when I see one of the pies on the table is the goat cheese, spinach, and slices of hard-boiled egg one. Probably sounds awful to most people--I'm the only one who eats it, so it was made just for me.
Friday, March 26, 2021
In Prep
Thursday, March 25, 2021
Triptych
Three uplifting encounters with women artist-activists today:
A discussion with Lysne Beckwith Tait, the founder of Helping Women Period in my WGS classroom.
A hangout with April Sunami as her work was being installed in the Rotunda art gallery. [Her art on the left; will update with title when the installation is done.]
A (beautifully!) student-moderated webinar with Alice Wong, who gave our Women's History Month keynote.
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
We're on
We're on dueling sofas. I'm reading; Nu's doodling me. Clearly, I'm happy :).
It's a good evening at the end of a very busy day where both my computer camera and I stayed on all day.
Reentry
I think that was a solid vacation--it didn't feel "fake" to me at all. I had a lovely time, meeting people Big A works with wa...
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Friends and old neighbors shutting it down in honor of John Crawford. _
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I have the feeling that I’m going to succumb to the season and put out a list of resolutions soon. Just wanted to establish this heads up th...
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At had us pose for this pic up at Aunt R's place on Lake Huron so he could put it up in his dorm. "Don't tur...