Ah, the start of a new week!
* Let’s start with the fun stuff, shall we? Saintseester has decided to run a contest over at Please Pass the Popcorn. Smartie that she is, she’s figured out how to insert a movie still into the banner header at the home page of the blog (which I STILL think is way-wicked cool, by the way). Starting today, she’s going to pop in a new still every day until Saturday. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to collect the answer to what film the still originates from and, on Saturday, email your list to saintseester at saintseester dot com. An entry from among those with the most correct answers will be chosen at random for a Blockbuster Night gift card, which gets you two movie rentals, two Cokes, and a bucket of popcorn. How cool is that?!
* I’m seriously considering quitting my gig at the health club. There are a lot of reasons behind this thinking, not the least of which is that the work environment – from the organization, not the participants – has gone from being mildly annoying to almost intolerable. I tell my yoga class people to aspire to the wisdom of the Ben and Jerry’s bumper sticker - if it’s not fun, why do it? and I don’t feel like I’m living the example I want to set for them by staying. I don’t really find joy in the work that I’m doing over there, mostly because I’m constantly afraid that the ground is going to give way underneath me. I’ve not written any resignation letters yet, but I think that one might be in my not-too-distant future.
* I think I’m finallly settling into my gig at Local U. Last week was a bit of a strain because I made a commitment to see every student for a preliminary writing conference and, as a consequence, had NO free time from Monday through Thursday. This week should be a bit more manageable, and I’m looking forward to getting the kids workshopping with each other on their first essays starting tomorrow.
* I think autumn has well and truly begun here in New England. The nights are getting downright chilly and the daytime highs haven’t made it past about 70 in the last two weeks. I’m not quite ready to dig out all the winter woobies yet, but the time is fast approaching. Maybe next weekend… I’m going to try to remember to take my camera with me to work at least once a week so I can document the changes in the leaves in the trees surrounding the “centerpiece” building on Local U.’s campus. Despite all my griping about the impending winter, autumn really is pretty around here.
* I’m finished with this term’s literature class at TCC. I’ve got two weeks off before the next term starts (I was offered an extended contract teaching the same course during the same time slot, coincidentally, to the same number of students). I’ve offered to pay O’Mama to co-teach the class with me, and I think we’re going to rock it. It’s totally an under-the-table arrangement between us (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) that should be easy to pull off because the class starts at ten past eight on Monday nights. I’m looking forward to it because some of my favorite time with my friend is spent hashing over stories and movies, and I think that the kids will benefit from our modeling what it’s like to critically engage literature. Here’s hoping that they demonstrate that benefit by turning in work that doesn’t make me want to gouge my eyes out.
* I was bitten by a dog last week, you guys! I was driving the scooter to Beanie’s school to pick her up from boot camp. I drove into the loop out back and was parking the bike when a man walked by with Lassie on a leash. He was interested in the scooter (I’m consistently amazed by how many people will stop to talk to me about them; I think that the folks we bought them from should pay me as a marketing person) and, as we were chatting, the little bitch lashed out in a fucking flash and tried to take a chunk out of my knee. She didn’t break the skin, but it still hurt like hell and bruised up something ugly. The owner was appropriately contrite, apologized up one side of me and down the other, then told me that the dog didn’t like motorcycles (well, Dude, if you knew that, you probably shoulda kept her a tiny bit closer to YOU!). My knee is still a bit tender, and I’m nervous now that some dog who “doesn’t like motorcycles” is going to break off its chain or hop its fence and run me down. My scooter doesn’t actually go fast enough for me to be able to outrun even a medium-sized dog…
* Someone, whose opinion about such things I am inclined to trust, has told me that the Twilight series is just as good as, if not better than, the Outlander series. I’m having a terrible time believing that – I use the Outlander books as the yardstick by which all other brain-candy novels are measured – but I’m willing to try to keep an open mind about it. I believe that Twilight may be my next DSBC pick… I hope Bo won’t mind.
* Finally, I am going to try to refrain from writing about politics here, at least for the next few weeks. I believe it’s a topic worthy of discussion, certainly, but I think that the lack of inflection and facial expressions that one must suffer when reading blog posts is a severe hindrance to open and thoughtful communication, at least where politics are concerned. I am loath to lump people into groups – especially my friends – and I fear that my frustrations with this cycle’s election whoop-dee-do comes across as frustration with every Republican. I like Republicans; some of my best friends lean Republican. I’m certainly not in this to piss everyone (anyone) off, so I’m just going to vote quietly and leave the fighting to people with thicker skins than I.
Happy Monday, Everyone!
You got bitten by a dog!!?? Ouch!
I have also dropped out of the political blogging arena. I see very little difference between the two major parties and supporters of both have a hard time breaking from the habit of villifying the other and justifying their own. Like you, I’m not in the mood to piss anyone off over this discussion.
The PPP contest runs through Saturday (6 days of stills)
Oh and my two bits on lit, while I loved both books (Twilight Series, Outlander) I would not put Twilight better than Outlander. Nope.
Twilight is good, but it is NO Outlander, but I am open to hearing why someone made that comparison. Honestly, Twilight is YA, is needlessly wordy, is teenage angst, but has the immortal undead working for it, so there is something. Outlander is epic and fantatic, and I have to say, I did NOT swoon with Twilight.
I am so looking forward to working with you – as a totally legit guest lecturer – to model literature deconstruction and analysis. This is going to be so much freaking fun!!
Yes, Auntie; Ouch. I’ve still got bruises on my knee, and have had to stay off of it in yoga class. I’m less freaked out about having been bitten than I am about how FAST the dog went from cute little collie to menacing jaws of death. Seriously.
Alan, I want very much to express my frustration and exasperation with certain players in the political game, but that just seems to alienate the people who think those players are the best choices for them. The point of our political system is that there is dissent and disagreement, and I’m totally down with that, but I DO NOT want to come across as venomous to someone I care about. I may have done that yesterday, and I’m not eager to do it again.
See, Seester? THAT’S what I’m thinking. Twilight might be GOOD, certainly, but it’d have to be some kind of amazing to top Outlander…. and I’ve corrected the dates for the contest; thanks for setting me straight.
I’m with saintseester. Outlander is the better series — well-researched, well-written and a “thumping good read” as they say. Twilight is a “thumping good read”, but not in the same league as Outlander.
That being said, Twilight is still an addicting series of books. Just be sure to give yourself some time and space to read it — I found it impossible to put down.
Yeah, what they said Twilight. I thoroughly enjoyed the Twilight series but still hold that she would have benefited greatly from a “thumping good” editor.
That collie owner is a dumbass. Collies are nippy by nature in my experience and he KNEW bikes were an issue. Bah! Sorry you got bit.
Health Club: QUIT! Is there another one where you could work for fun and maintaining your skill and working out? It would be hard to give up an exercise job, but from what little I know (I did read a password protected post a while back), it’s not worth it. Not even close.
I’m sorry about the dog bite. I’m glad it didn’t break the skin. My husband had a dog bite (his sister’s dog) a couple of months ago, and it got infected. Swelled up like a balloon. It was on his hand, and his fingers are still now. (Quite possibly a type of arthritis.) So I’m glad no skin was broken, but you are SO right that if the guy knew his dog didn’t like motorcycles, he shouldn’t have brought her near. My dog is threatening to certain people, and I hang onto his collar when I answer the door. Not a smart man.
Outlander Series. I have read one book. A long time ago. I kept it because I couldn’t decide to get rid of it. But I wasn’t impressed. However, I think I’m going to have to go back and read it again because of all the RAVING you do here about it. I’m glad I didn’t throw it away. I don’t know when it will happen, but I value your opinion because of your opinons on other things.
Politics. Wise. I’m tired of it. I don’t watch television so don’t get media bombardment, but I AM tired of much of what I’ve read on blogs. But to be honest, you are one of the VERY few that I would take more seriously because I know how tolerant you are of PEOPLE. I get tired of ranting, especially what seems to me to be uninformed or media-induced ranting. I don’t think I’ve ever felt like you were ranting. You think more than the average person who likes to be on a soapbox about politics. (Which is perhaps why you’ve decided not to be on one!)
Hey, as an asterisked libertarian, I don’t get much comfort anywhere. (Well, Boortz is all right on a lot of things.) There’s damned sure none to be found amongst vanilla Democrats and vanilla Republicans. Both think I’m nuts.
For the record, you didn’t alienate me. I considered our exchange polite and without emotion.
But I guess it’s clear I didn’t much care for Derek calling me stupid right out of the gate.
I’m pleased to discuss politics civilly, and in fact enjoy doing so, but I also believe strongly in extending respect to an opposing discussion party until s/he gives me a valid reason to do otherwise. I assume that s/he, though disagreeing with me, is an intelligent person who has arrived at his/her position thoughtfully. Exchanging ideas with such people is a great way to learn and grow.
People (of any political persuasion) who don’t do that, and prefer to hurl epithets instead, deserve what they get in return.
Uh, that was Mike, not Derek, who came out of the gate with “stupid.” I apologize for my error.
I haven’t read a lot of Vampire stuff, or the Outlander series, but I enjoyed Twilight for what it was–young adult lit.
Quitting the health center might take a load off. You might not realize that this job has become a burden until you unload it.
Sorry to hear of the dog bite. Dumbass owner. (I wish you had an eyeroll smiley)
Politics are tough to write about, I concur. Inflection, tone and expression are necessary. I avoid political writings on my own blog because I’m afraid I come off as shrill. In my regular life I am anything but shrill.
Re: dog bite, ouch!
I am pretty uninterested in politics at this time.
Bo, I don’t think it was you I offended, but your lovely bride. Please tell her – if she hasn’t already read my apology – that I’m sorry if that’s the case…
mrshcili – I’m not offended. After fifteen years in the corporate world doing software testing, I have much thicker skin then you might think. It takes a lot more then a difference of opinion to offend me! It just seem to me there is a knee jerk reaction this election that if someone doesn’t agree with someone elses views than they have the right to insult their level of intelligence or their decision making process. It’s not just prevelant in the blogging world, either. You see it in all forms of media. What is the point of it? Who does this convince? I have no problem with people putting forth their position on why they prefer one candidate over another. I meant no offense to you, either. You have a right to love or hate whoever you want to. However, I have gotten to the point where I refuse to sit quietly and let somebody lump me into a group or turn it into a personal attack.
Outlander! My oh my … I’m feeling a re-read coming on. And I never ever re-read books. But I’ve already read the first two a couple of times.
I know this will likely get me tossed out of the Outlander society, but I’ve still not read the last book. It’s sitting on my bookcase, but I’ve not picked it up. Sounds like what I’ll be doing as I recoup from surgery this December … after I thumb back through the Outlandish Companion just to refresh my memory about all those details.
Wheee!
Yep, I need to run away to Outlander land. Just the ticket to blow off the next 6 weeks until this stupid election season is over.