Equinoccio

Today my student sent his manuscript off to New Directions, which is interested in it. This was exciting for him, and for me in large part because it was his first time sending paper mail. I taught three classes, finished an enormous backlog of grading, and completed a full draft of the new departmental website. … More Equinoccio

La nostalgie

I would like to put my time into creating marvelous, magisterial lectures based on my broad knowledge and ground-breaking research, and working with seniors and (good) graduate students on special projects. I wish someone else were handling the 2/3 of the discussion groups and the grading … I would do 1/3 … and we could … More La nostalgie

Angola 4 PM

Orig.: Wives but especially parents laughing brightly, keeping a stiff upper lip as they leave. Then, that somber drive home. Version 1: Wives, but especially parents laughing brightly, keeping a stiff upper lip as they leave. Then that somber drive home. What do you think? Axé.

The park was luscious and filled with swans and fairy-like creatures

The fairies were the many children old enough to walk but not talk, excited to be out trying to run and jump. Swans were gliding and posing, geese were honking, and wet turtles were in fact jumping, plop! back into the pond. … in Just- spring          when the world is mud- luscious the little lame … More The park was luscious and filled with swans and fairy-like creatures

L’esprit

You have to recognize oppression, stand up for yourself, and then go out with your friends. It is amazing how much more energy and focus you can have if you take authority. I was always taught that you should negotiate or turn the other cheek but I declare that it is neither that nor “learning … More L’esprit

J’ai compris

The reason I do not like being a professor, I finally see, is traditional language teaching. I never learned languages this way and when I said I was willing to teach foreign languages as service, although it was not my principal objective in life, I meant it — but did not realize that what I … More J’ai compris