Reasons why I feel like a nerdy old lady today:
A colleague/mentor today loaned me a book that's out of print and not at my library, saving me the inter-library loan wait. It's full of photos of theater renovations in Spain of old corrales, original beams and everything. I reacted the way many (most?) women would to jewelery or a romantic trip someplace....giggly and excited about the prospect of using/enjoying it when I got home.
I found a place that does natural alpaca fiber, spins it and dyes it themselves and everything. AND THEY'RE LOCAL. AND OWNED BY A WOMAN!!
So pretty soon I'm gonna scan me some photos and crochet me some super-soft, hippy fingerless gloves, or maybe a baby hat.
As a somewhat somber side note, I need a baby of my own to crochet for, but apparently God's not feeling generous with babies lately, at least ones for me. Which makes me more than a little sad. Oh well, at least I have work to keep me busy.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Remembering Mamaw
I'm thinking about Mamaw* tonight.
She always gifted me books. We have a photo of a six-year-old me hugging a leather bound copy of the complete works of Lewis Carroll that was the preferred present that year. She also gave me Little Women, The Secret Garden, and introduced me to the Laura Ingalls Wlder books. In some ways I think I can blame her for both my lasting interest in women writers and my love of feminist criticism. The fact that I'm now near completion of my PhD in literature would have thrilled her.
I can see her sitting in the swing on the back porch at the Lake, the slightly-yellow light on and the warm summer air cooling while we rocked back and forth. She used to start almost everything she said to me with "Emily honey...". She was so very wise and helped me to be patient with both myself and others. She also helped me to enjoy white hyacinths for the soul.
So tonight in celebration of submitting revisions, I'm pretending I don't have grading to do and eating an evening snack that's a collection of my favorite things. Thanks, T, for saving Mamaw's china for me so that I can feel a little closer to her at times like this.
* it is important to know that my family comes from Tennessee and her name is "Maw-maw." Not "Meah-maw."
She always gifted me books. We have a photo of a six-year-old me hugging a leather bound copy of the complete works of Lewis Carroll that was the preferred present that year. She also gave me Little Women, The Secret Garden, and introduced me to the Laura Ingalls Wlder books. In some ways I think I can blame her for both my lasting interest in women writers and my love of feminist criticism. The fact that I'm now near completion of my PhD in literature would have thrilled her.
I can see her sitting in the swing on the back porch at the Lake, the slightly-yellow light on and the warm summer air cooling while we rocked back and forth. She used to start almost everything she said to me with "Emily honey...". She was so very wise and helped me to be patient with both myself and others. She also helped me to enjoy white hyacinths for the soul.
So tonight in celebration of submitting revisions, I'm pretending I don't have grading to do and eating an evening snack that's a collection of my favorite things. Thanks, T, for saving Mamaw's china for me so that I can feel a little closer to her at times like this.
* it is important to know that my family comes from Tennessee and her name is "Maw-maw." Not "Meah-maw."
Friday, February 15, 2013
Taking the easy way out
I've been revising most of the day. Finished a chapter, started on another.
I'm tired and frustrated and worn down by the whole process and by the fact that it seems like I still have SO MUCH to do before it's done.
I still have to basically re-write the worst chapter (saving the worst for last), plus write a conclusion, plus finish the works cited page, plus do all the formatting the graduate school and the online submission folks require...
I need to do this all before Monday night. My students take another round of exams on Tuesday, which will mean me buried in grading again next week with no time to work. My adviser needs time to look at the draft so that she can approve it or I can make some last changes before the committee gets it, but they need it before March 1st so I'm under a crunch.
It makes me feel overwhelmed.
So, just for now, I'm going to take a break and do easy things. Run the sweeper, unload the dishwasher, and shuffle the laundry.
Too bad I can whip my house into perfect shape in something like 35 minutes. If only I could write as easily.
I'm tired and frustrated and worn down by the whole process and by the fact that it seems like I still have SO MUCH to do before it's done.
I still have to basically re-write the worst chapter (saving the worst for last), plus write a conclusion, plus finish the works cited page, plus do all the formatting the graduate school and the online submission folks require...
I need to do this all before Monday night. My students take another round of exams on Tuesday, which will mean me buried in grading again next week with no time to work. My adviser needs time to look at the draft so that she can approve it or I can make some last changes before the committee gets it, but they need it before March 1st so I'm under a crunch.
It makes me feel overwhelmed.
So, just for now, I'm going to take a break and do easy things. Run the sweeper, unload the dishwasher, and shuffle the laundry.
Too bad I can whip my house into perfect shape in something like 35 minutes. If only I could write as easily.
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