| Anatomy Lesson |
[May. 4th, 2008|03:28 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  amused | ] |
According to one of my students, the name of the Bubonic Plague "comes from the large pus-filled buboes that would grow in the limp nodes of those infected."
Limp nodes...classic.
Hopefully I'll find some more pearls of wisdom as I slog through the rest of the 80 papers that I have to grade by Wednesday.
* Another student told me that the "bad air" (or miasma) on which some blamed the Black Death came from the "bad air of the oil refineries." I wonder if she's from Elizabeth, NJ. |
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[Nov. 5th, 2007|11:38 am] |
Bill's mom died Saturday night. She'd had ALS. What a terrible way to go.
Tim called me yesterday to tell me the news. Weird thing is that I'd been having the feeling I ought to send Bill a card, telling him I was sorry to hear about his mother (i.e. about her having ALS), for a couple days. I had put the card in the mail maybe an hour or so before Tim called. |
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| Not in the least surprised... |
[Oct. 18th, 2007|10:55 pm] |
| You Are a Werewolf | 
You're unpredictable, moody, and downright freaky.
You seem sweet and harmless, until you snap. Then you're a total monster.
Very few people can predict if you're going to be Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde.
But for you, all your transformations seem perfectly natural.
Your greatest power: Your ability to tap into nature
Your greatest weakness: Lack of self control
You play well with: Vampires |
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[Oct. 15th, 2007|06:15 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  pissed off | ] |
The package I mailed to Oleg last month was returned to me today. I can't believe he never even picked it up. Bastard. |
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| What a difference a d makes |
[Sep. 27th, 2007|08:40 pm] |
Notice the difference:
"I took out my make-up case and powered my nose."
"I took out my make-up case and powdered my nose."
I was wondering whether her nose runs on AC or DC power. Or perhaps it's a hybrid. |
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| 4 weeks |
[Sep. 26th, 2007|06:59 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | frustrated | ] |
It's been 4 weeks since I last saw Oleg, and I have no idea how much longer I'll have to wait. I have a feeling this weekend will be a bust, and then we're into October. I am trying so hard not to be impatient, but it's progressively more and more difficult.
Poor guy is absolutely swamped at work, and overwhelmed with bureaucratic stuff on top of work. I spoke with him Monday night and at 9pm, he was just leaving his office. He was heading home to make a quick dinner and do yet more work until who knows what time. At least we had a nice chat of 45 minutes or so. He may have to work this weekend, which is why he probably will not be making a trip down to Baltimore, and I probably will not be heading up to NYC. :(
Unlike with Bill, who had increasingly more work "obligations", Oleg's work is not an excuse to push me away. He admitted how frustrated he was with the time he had to put into his research and prep, and that he really does want to see me. I'm sure that he would be very happy to work half as much as he's doing and have more time for travel, visits and relaxation.
I just have to be patient. Sigh...it's not easy. |
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| I've been busy... |
[Sep. 22nd, 2007|04:31 pm] |
Or fairly sacrilegious, depending on whether you care that I've been working on theoretically the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.
I've:- Worked on job applications
- Researched schools that are hiring
- Done gardening
- Done laundry
- Prepped for class on Monday
- Worked on next term's syllabi
- Caught up on student emails
I just have to remember to leave some work to do tomorrow, otherwise I'll have to figure out how to keep myself busy (i.e. not stressing over Oleg, not driving everyone crazy, not getting into trouble, etc etc etc). |
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| A glimmer of hope? |
[Sep. 22nd, 2007|10:48 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  hopeful | ] |
In the throng of schools looking for medievalists, most are located in the midwest and other areas I'd rather not live, while there are only a few shining beacons, one being the school at which I'm currently teaching. However, today I discovered another, one that would allow me to return (more or less) to my beloved Boston area. It's not really in the Boston area (Norton is about 45-60 minutes south), but cutting the distance and living within a commutable distance (say, Dedham) would be eminently possible.
Oh, Boston area friends, think good thoughts for me! It worked for ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) gower! |
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| 'Tis the Season... |
[Sep. 18th, 2007|01:55 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  determined | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Whitesnake - Here I Go Again | ] |
For job applications.
And the first honor goes to...the University of Michigan, because their deadline is so freakin' early!
Wish me luck for a tenure track position this time round! It would be heaven not to have to revert back to adjunct teaching. |
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| Plushenko humor |
[Sep. 17th, 2007|08:27 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | amused | ] |
There's a reason I love figure skating...it's always so very entertaining!
A while ago, I'd seen this on tv. I thought that was good. However, last night I stumbled onto this on youtube and laughed my ass off. |
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| Two weeks in review |
[Sep. 8th, 2007|01:00 pm] |
Has it already been two weeks since the semester started? Hard to believe. So let's see....
Classes are off to a roaring start, and while I certainly haven't learned everyone's name yet, I've made some headway. Not bad considering I have about 125 students. The three western civ's have quite different dynamics, and I've decided that the noon class is my favorite (much as I know having favorites is BAD). They seemed to like talking about Louis XIV as a Man in Tights (Sun King portrait), and laugh at my jokes. I like them. :) My senior seminar students are a mixed bag: some I think believe they'll be able to walk all over me, since I'm new at York, while others have adopted me as their new best friend. I think they all like me, though it may be because I have usually ended class early. I am very curious to see the kind of research papers they'll churn out, particularly the ones working on ancient and medieval topics. Yes, there is one guy who's writing about the third Crusade. Score!
I have discovered that while the car very much likes the fact that I only need to be on campus three days a week, having all four classes and two office hours on one day leaves me absolutely drained. I was exhausted yesterday even before I went out for a Shabbat dinner, which didn't end until long after I'd left at 12:30 (last time I didn't get home until close to 2am). I can only imagine how tired I'll be once I start having grading to do!
One of my western civ students came up to me after class yesterday to ask if I would agree to be the faculty advisor for a new paintball club. He was so eager and earnest that I couldn't refuse. So, I am now a faculty advisor. Weird. I suppose it had to happen sooner or later. I know that there's another club that'll be wanting me to be a co-advisor for their club, but it's more of a history club, so I'm actually invested in that.
Tomorrow, sometime, I'm heading up to Philly to visit family. Since my grandfather is visiting out here for a few weeks, I'd be downright stupid not to make the effort to see him. After all, how frequently do I get the chance to fly out to CA to see him there?
I'm still very very dorky over Oleg. He's been in NYC for a week now, and I really miss him. He's going nuts with his new research position, and by Wednesday, when we last spoke, he still hadn't had a chance to settle in very well (largely the fault of, as he called her, the "stupid secretary"). I hope he'll be able to before long. I'm sending him some baked goods for Rosh Hashanah, and I hope that soon I'll be heading up there for a visit. I would hate to think that just as this really showed some strong long-term potential, the distance spoiled things. Though, it's not really that much distance...not when compared with Toronto to NJ! And, while going duh is frustrating (to say the least), it's so nice to have someone I can be extremely dorky over again...it's been such a long time since the last one.
Otherwise, not much. My left arm is all purple and nasty looking because while getting blood taken for some tests earlier this week, the idiot tech poked the needle all the way through my vein. My arm hurts, but it looks far worse than it feels. I guess I could make up some exciting sc-fi-esque explanation for the big ugly bruise, but I'm not feeling particularly creative today. Perhaps tomorrow. |
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| He's gone |
[Sep. 1st, 2007|02:29 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  melancholy | ] |
Sad Christmas.
Yesterday was rough. |
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[Aug. 25th, 2007|10:42 am] |
Happy Birthday zvalium!!!!
May this be a wonderful year for you! |
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[Aug. 21st, 2007|04:42 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  mischievous | ] |
OK, how bad (i.e. unprofessional) would it look to use the term "pumps your nads" on a syllabus? |
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| My excuse for any ditziness.... |
[Aug. 11th, 2007|09:24 am] |
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I found a blonde hair today. An extremely blonde hair. |
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[Aug. 4th, 2007|01:49 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  uncertain and somewhat uneasy | ] |
Just found out that my department will be conducting a tenure-track search for the position I have this coming year rather than the following year as originally scheduled.
That means my contract will not be extended for a second year. It could mean that after this year I will finally obtain that coveted tenure-track position, but there's absolutely no guarantee that I will be successful with this particular job.
I think I actually would have preferred a 2-year contract...there's some security and comfort. Now the situation is risky again. Especially with PGT at NYU for probably 2 years rather than one. |
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| Update |
[Jul. 23rd, 2007|04:18 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  apathetic | ] |
Been a while since I posted. Life and what-not (and generally a lack of anything meaningful to write) have stood in the way.
I'm all moved in, though there are still things to do, like finding those last pieces of furniture I need, getting some window coverings to add color to some fairly monochromatic rooms, and hanging the rest of the art. I was thinking about heading out to the fabric store today, but couldn't muster the energy to face traffic on York Rd. Ah well, perhaps I'll swing by there tomorrow. At least everything's unpacked, more or less put away, and the boxes are stored neatly out of sight in the garage. I'll be happier once all the decorating is completely finished, but for now, I'm quite pleased with the way it's turned out. The next major purchases will be flowers and such for the backyard...but those are fun purchases.
I schlepped up to NJ and back yesterday for a very quick, 2-3 hour visit with my brother and his clan (no understatement: he's got 5 kids). While it is nice to spend time with my nephews and new niece, day-tripping it is not something I want to do again. I was absolutely exhaused after driving nearly 400 miles RT, and in some ways, I don't feel like my efforts were completely appreciated. For example, although I had explained to my brother that in order to have a more liesurely, lengthy visit, I'd have to bring my dog along, as I couldn't leave her in her crate for more than about 9 hours, he opted for the shorter visit but then seemed almost resentful when I told him I had to leave. I barely saw my oldest nephew, who breezed in and left nearly as quickly to go play with friends, without so much as a hello. My brother's wife too seemed somewhat standoff-ish, but unfortunately that is not too unusual for her. And there was a really stupid episode at the very end of my visit that prevented me from having a proper goodbye. All in all, not the most fulfilling visit, but at high physical cost.
Parents are coming sometime tomorrow for a week-long visit. Stay posted. It has the possibility of being an absolutely amazing week, or one after which I'll need a vacation. Why? The kicker is that they're staying with me, rather than at a hotel, which is a first.
Oh, and the potential guy thing seems not to have panned out...at least for the time being. I'll know more when he's no longer an indentured servant for his postdoc supervisor.
EDIT (11 pm): Potential guy thing called me, so all is cool. Still indentured servant (he's actually heading back to the lab to work tonight!), but looking forward to life after servitude...and promised to call me. :) |
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| Moved in.... |
[Jul. 12th, 2007|10:14 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | tired | ] |
Mostly. There are still boxes to be unpacked, art to be put on the walls, but I think it looks amazingly settled for only two days of moving in. Course, I have yet to go grocery shopping....
Moving day (Tuesday) turned out to be the hottest, most humid day I think we've had thus far this summer. I felt really badly for the movers, but gave them a hefty tip as compensation. And the boon was that they worked as quickly and efficiently as possible so they could get out of the heat. Ergo, they finished faster than they probably would have if the weather were nicer. Go figure. I had all my stuff in my new place by 2:00. I thought it might take until at least 4:00. The only problem was that my desk didn't fit up the staircase (I was leary anyway), so it's now sitting in the garage until I can figure out how to get rid of it. A desk that is not in my office is of no use to me, and I have a new desk (that will fit) on its way.
I still have to go back to the apartment and clean (and spackle some nail holes) before I turn in the keys on the 21st. I've got time.
Thankfully Moira has taken to the new place very well. She now has three bathroom floors on which to sleep...she likes having options. She's discovered the yard, plus the frustration of not being able to get at dogs that walk past the fence. We have yet to stroll around the neighborhood, though, which I know she's dying to do. As am I. There's a dog park around here somewhere, and I'm damned well going to find it!
It's been an expensive move. Not the movers, since York College is picking up the tab for that, but other acquisitions I've felt I've needed or been justified to make. Such as the new bed and mattresses. And the new desk. And another bookcase. And more towels and accessories to outfit two additional bathrooms. And the ladder. Mustn't forget that ladder.
But...I have a real spare bedroom with a bed, not a futon, so if anyone needs crash space in the Baltimore area (or just feels like visiting!), give me a jingle. :) |
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sad