L's Bend of the River

Saturday Walking Club is back! (At least for this week.)


We meandered through the riverwalk and wandered through L's part of the riverbank.






_

Chicago, Redux

Had some paperwork to submit in Chicago, so here I am again for the third time in three weeks.  All by myself this time.

And I talked to SO MANY strangers this time. The first time, I was with the fam for Hamilton and barely spoke to anyone else; the second time was for the MLA, so lots of friends, colleagues, etc., and didn't get a chance to speak to street strangers. But my, my, my... I sure am a chatty Patty when I'm by myself.



_

My Term of Rest and Relaxation

I heard My Year of Rest and Relaxation was funny and thought it would be funny to read it now since I'm on a sabbatical (term not the whole year, but...).

But OMG, while I chortled in a few places, I was so saddened and depressed from this overall.

And... I worked on campus from 9-7 today, so I'm doing the sabbatical wrong too.




-

Walking in the Woods on a Snowy Morning

There were so many fat snowflakes on our hike, I wanted some evidence I'd voluntarily ventured out in it. And as I was struggling to frame some snow, L took one of me.

_

Reader, I Whimpered...

As I sat down with my lemony green tea in the semi darkness, I whimpered just from the sheer delight of the soothing warmth of the tea, the tang of lemon, and knowing the caffeine would soon be coursing through me... and the happiness of  being home and looking forward to doing all the normal things at the normal times.

Except there's no telling what Nu will say during an otherwise normal day. I offered her some almonds from a bag when I picked her up from school. Nu: "These taste like wood. Ask me how I know what wood tastes like." (I dutifully enquire.) "Because I play the clarinet. That's how."

That's percussion innit? #Badumtish #Sting

_

Working Hard (for no money)

#NeilLazarus #DIscussion Group #SALA

#SALA@MLA

Nerd Words

I love being at every panel I can squeeze in, so a lot of my photos today look like this:



_

Back in Chicago

For the #MLA, this time without the kids...

A lovely reunion with Ra and then with Ro; made me feel like a grad student at Oxford all over again.

Later, I was explaining the difference between Ra and other advisors I've had to someone at a gathering and termed it being the recipient of "both brilliance and a kind of affection" and happened to look up to catch Ra's eye. Whereupon, she smiled and said, "you can use the l-word, you know."  All the happy feelings.

_


_

Guess What We Did on Jan 3rd?

Finally got everyone in one place to take a "holiday" family picture! It's a holiday miracle!






Though Big A is a bit Ghost Dad in this one...














So here's Take #2











_

The Future is Now