I can't believe that I posted the address for this old blog on an on-line class discussion. I was encouraged because Lucy Lunchmeat posted hers. Now they're all going to find out I like hockey and the Beastie Boys right off the bat. So I'll just have to try to create extra-sparkling, error-free prose, just in case my fellow students stop by. One student came out as a Republican in class yesterday - that was pretty brave, and he didn't get any flak for it. Another came out in that same on-line class discussion as being a fan fic writer. So at least I'm not the only geek.
The rolling terrain here on campus should, at the very least, contribute to better calves and buns. It better. All this walking is kicking my ass. I have to leave for my classes early so I don't show up to them all red faced and winded.
One of the library workers is walking about in a very agitated fashion pushing all the unoccupied chairs back under the desks. Why is he so upset?
Among the more interesting things I've seen written in concrete are "JEB sucks", and "Reagan Kills". I wonder if there is any anti-Clinton rhetoric scratched in stone somewhere? Further research is necessary.
I just had an excellent opportunity to steal a car - a decent one, too. With running A/C and everything. Some college youth left it parked, running and with the flashers on, as he ran up the street and into a building. I guess he thought that he wouldn't get a ticket if he left the engine on - 'cause that makes the parking police forget that you parked illegally. At any rate, I kept my eye on the situation as I trudged up the hill and past the building where the young man had disappeared - he didn't come back the entire time. Should have taken the car. I could have at least driven to my parking lot a mile away and then left it there, as a lesson on the dangers of doing foolish things like leaving your car running on a college campus.
I feel like I'm at a crossroads with this blog, or maybe I'm just hungry. I'm just in this weird monastic / scholastic state, as I'm now in school but don't have a home here yet, so it feels as if I have no life outside the confines of campus. Therefore, I don't have anything that would be of interest to my readers to post these days. So, if you want to read about the latest theories on responding to students' writing, let me know. If not, I'll update again in a couple of days.
Ok, here's something:
I found my dad's dissertation here in the library yesterday. By coincidence, it's on the same floor where I've taken up part-time residence. Another coincidence: one of the due dates stamped on the book is Godfrey and Lunchbox's birthday - down to the year.
Since he wrote it in the 1960's, it's typed on that flimsy onion skin paper, and I knew right away that Mum had typed it, and, unsurprisingly, he didn't thank her in the acknowledgements. That was a lot of hard work! She had to type superscripts and charts without the benefits of word processing software! (Note to self: be sure to thank Godfrey in my thesis' acknowledgements.) I checked out Dad's work, it seemed a fitting first item to borrow from the library. There's a coffee stain on one of the pages. It's about using the Weschler Intelligence Test to diagnose sociopathy. No one has borrowed it since 1984.
Sorry for the radio silence, guys and girls, but I'm still only able to access the Internet and all its wonders when I'm on campus. And usually when I'm there I'm in homework mode.
All is well - very well, actually. The department, unlike some English departments elsewhere in academia, is very supportive, and the grad students are friendly and helpful to us newly-minted T.A.s. I got my assignment for the fall - I'll be teaching two freshman English courses in the computer classrooms! Monday-Wednesday-Friday at 9 and 10 a.m. Apparently word got out that I am not afraid of technology. Here I'm actually the techno-geek! Tuesdays and Thursdays I'll take my lit classes, American Lit to 1875 and British Romantic literature (and no, that does not mean Barbara Cartland novels!) Classes this summer are great, and yesterday I got to lead a writing exercise in my internship freshman comp class. They are so very sleepy at 8 a.m.
I do have a negative story to report. I was attacked in my new apartment the other night. There I was, doing homework at my computer, when I noticed movement out of corner of my eye. It was a palmetto bug the size of a canned ham. I hate those things! I screamed, which of course caught its attention. I think they sprayed the place before we moved in, so it was probably all spaced out on industrial strength Raid. The equivalent of a homeless person strung out on crack. It took off in a lazy arc of flight toward me, so I ran out of the room, figuring that I would just tell my professor that I have severe roachophobia and was unable to complete the assignment. I decided to call Godfrey. One of his chief household duties is to take care of this sort of thing. Get this - he refused to make the four-hour drive to kill the bug! While I was whining about the issue, the strung-out bug staggered into the bedroom! The bastard was stalking me! Fortunately, Fluffypuff the cat decided to do something about it. She played with it for several minutes. Eventually it was stunned enough for me to push it out the front door with a broom without it launching itself at me. The next day - the body was gone.
Okay, townhouse, but you get the drift. Yes, I have rejoined the 21st century with high-speed Internet and cable! I thought I was strong enough to tough it out with no WWW except while on campus, but I was wrong. There's something about sitting in front of my computer at home at all hours of the day.
Soon, the rest of our belongings, along with my spouse, will be joining me. It's been a strange summer. I've decided that Tampa is Hell with the Stanley Cup and great restaurants. It's also where my best friends live, so as long as that's true, I will always enjoy visiting them there.
