Next Year Starts Now

Graduation was this weekend and meetings about next year start tomorrow. Since next year starts tomorrow, we will remember to write our own job descriptions and not volunteer. I have of course just agreed to chair a really onerous committee for the next two years, so I am not qualified to speak on this matter … More Next Year Starts Now

On Seriousness

A nadie le importa Milton Wolff ni el Morganza Spillway, cosa que me extraña a  mí — que si fuera esto un huracán me estarían mirando todos. But if you would like, you can watch the whole town of Butte LaRose go down right here. Meanwhile, in graduate school and beyond we were constantly having … More On Seriousness

Shopping List

Do you think it is possible to save money and get in shape at the same time? I am going to try it and here is how. Off shopping list: beer, cheese, fowl, fruit juice, meat, most fruit, milk, spirits, wine. On shopping list: almonds, beans, brown rice, buttermilk, couscous, lettuce, limes, melons, miso, olives, … More Shopping List

Et encore…

So the reason I am obsessed with Robert Boice is, what he has to say applies to me in part and in part, not. I think he assumes one is either interested in one’s work, and so is at least not trying to force that, or is not interested, and so must force it. And … More Et encore…

On Being New Faculty

This repost is dedicated, variously, to Clarissa, Feminéma, Jonathan Mayhew, Historiann, New Kid on the Hallway, Tenured Radical, and Undine, to a few others I have forgotten, to some interesting assistant professor blogs like Paper Chase and Uentdenckt that have disappeared. Remember, I am for the rights of adjuncts and I believe they should have … More On Being New Faculty

On Confidence

I  have very uneven “self esteem” or as I call it, confidence. In high school, I didn’t think the local dime store would hire me. By the end of college, I knew I could work in a dime store or a factory or as a substitute teacher. But I did not think I could be … More On Confidence

On Advice

I do not want yet more discipline, I want to fall apart and sleep for a long time. Then, I want to work on my new life, not grind away at the old one on the theory that if I just motivate myself in the right way everything will be all right. Unfortunately I really … More On Advice