I had every intention of coming home and typing tonight, getting the resource guide wrapped up and looking at fiction. My problems with fiction writing is another post altogether and now not nearly as important.
Savannah, my cousin with brain cancer, is in renal failure. She's still fighting, but well, hell, look it up in a dictionary. I don't mean it like that; Chad's way of putting it is true, but I can't say it like that. Right now we're all waiting.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Friday, September 30, 2005
Yeah, it's a good Friday.
Sorry about no post yesterday. I was busy reading Bacon. I'm almost finished, which means I should have plenty of time to read the other two guys for next week. Though I do have to start on the reading for Monday night's class.
Today is a writing day. I have to finish two more sections on the Resource Guide, and then were saying that's a wrap for this year. I'll probably need to get started on the material for the spring Acadiana Faire before adding in the stuff that didn't make 2005 version to the 2006 version. Hey that's one way to keep the teachers hungry for more.
And the S.S. Camille ship survived. I'm awed. Seeing that ship and having my mother explain that a hurricane put it on the other side of the road was my first lightbulb moment concerning hurricanes. It's still surreal, but in a good way obviously.
Anyways, home repairs and movies this weekend. I got the tickets for Saturday night.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Today is a writing day. I have to finish two more sections on the Resource Guide, and then were saying that's a wrap for this year. I'll probably need to get started on the material for the spring Acadiana Faire before adding in the stuff that didn't make 2005 version to the 2006 version. Hey that's one way to keep the teachers hungry for more.
And the S.S. Camille ship survived. I'm awed. Seeing that ship and having my mother explain that a hurricane put it on the other side of the road was my first lightbulb moment concerning hurricanes. It's still surreal, but in a good way obviously.
Anyways, home repairs and movies this weekend. I got the tickets for Saturday night.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
No, I'm not going to scream
This is why we go for further education, to teach us how to get along with fellow man when fellow man seeks to drive us up the wall, right? It's all about karma enlightenment, right? I'm earning brownie points somewhere and one day I will have a HUGE ASS MERIT BADGE, RIGHT?
Okay so I lied about the screaming. Judging from the emails I just received for the class, the way that was decided to fix the syllabus was to jump over to the date we are currently on. Let me check the bleeping blackboard for a bleeping updated syllabus. No, why should we have something that tells us when bleeping papers are due and what we are supposed to be reading?
Yes, friends. I think I have just wasted a day and a half reading the wrong assignment. No, I don't think it's too late to start reading the new stuff, but I'm just ready to tear my hair out all the same.
Damn just when I was starting to like Bacon's prose, we've got to go back with poetry.
2:30 p.m. update: ARGH! I'm going to throw my book at the professor! Yes, I emailed for clarification (an started an email back and forth with another student who is just as confused as I am; I'm not alone) and NOW she remembers the other assignments. Meanwhile I had stopped reading to try to find out what was going on and will now have to do a cram session tonight and tomorrow before class to finish.
*Twitch* And I was hoping to go home and do something soothing oh like finishing the resource guide.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Okay so I lied about the screaming. Judging from the emails I just received for the class, the way that was decided to fix the syllabus was to jump over to the date we are currently on. Let me check the bleeping blackboard for a bleeping updated syllabus. No, why should we have something that tells us when bleeping papers are due and what we are supposed to be reading?
Yes, friends. I think I have just wasted a day and a half reading the wrong assignment. No, I don't think it's too late to start reading the new stuff, but I'm just ready to tear my hair out all the same.
Damn just when I was starting to like Bacon's prose, we've got to go back with poetry.
2:30 p.m. update: ARGH! I'm going to throw my book at the professor! Yes, I emailed for clarification (an started an email back and forth with another student who is just as confused as I am; I'm not alone) and NOW she remembers the other assignments. Meanwhile I had stopped reading to try to find out what was going on and will now have to do a cram session tonight and tomorrow before class to finish.
*Twitch* And I was hoping to go home and do something soothing oh like finishing the resource guide.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Time for more Bacon
As in Francis Bacon. I really hope I'm not supposed to have all the essays by him, Hobbes, and Donne read by tomorrow, because I don't think it's going to happen--even with as fast as I read.
I want a double feature this weekend, but we may have to drive to Baton Rouge to get it. Serenity starts Friday and Corpse Bride started last weekend, and I don't know when the Hammond theater is going to get new movies delivered. MirrorMask is also starting on Friday, but with a limited release. I doubt even Baton Rouge is on that list. Checking with MovieTickets.com.
Well, looks like we can see Corpse Bride and Serenity back to back, and MirrorMask is showing no where within 40 miles of my house.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
I want a double feature this weekend, but we may have to drive to Baton Rouge to get it. Serenity starts Friday and Corpse Bride started last weekend, and I don't know when the Hammond theater is going to get new movies delivered. MirrorMask is also starting on Friday, but with a limited release. I doubt even Baton Rouge is on that list. Checking with MovieTickets.com.
Well, looks like we can see Corpse Bride and Serenity back to back, and MirrorMask is showing no where within 40 miles of my house.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Ugh on a Tuesday
Yesterday was spent trying to get caught up on yard work--i.e. clean up after Katrina and Rita--and catch up on stuff I needed from the library for the Monday night class. I managed to work outside for 2 hours before reaching the almost loopy stage from the heat. Mind you I did take an hour long drink as much water as you can hold between the two. I got the front yard between the oak tree and the camilla tree from my front porch to those two trees cleared.
INSERT PHOTO OF FRONT YARD
I burned the pile of debris that Chad and I had gathered post-Katrina, and that was the "big" stuff. There's still scattered mess in the back yard, as well as dealing with where the burn pile was that Chad wants to turn into a garden. I haven't had the energy to argue with him over how a garden is going to be cared for since all I do is drive and he's living with his mother. I guess Mustard is supposed to pull up weeds.
We still need to cut down the other crepe myrtle. I was extremely lucky Rita didn't knock it down. It's too close to the house to just let it fall when it wants to go. The cedar and the camilla both need trimming, though the camilla is supposed to be after it's bloomed. I need to trim the gardenia and hydragena bushes.
And then there's the fig tree. Okay, the fig tree is ancient as far as fig trees go. We're supposed to start new plantings off of it because it won't last much longer. The center of it came crashing down with Rita. I can't see through the weedy undergrowth too see how bad the damage is (my fear of snakes got a couple of shocks this past weekend and I have avoided poking into the mess.) so again, I'm waiting.
By 1 p.m. I had bathed and went to lunch on campus. Then I marched to the library to get the essays on Great Expectations. I couldn't check the book because of fines. Turns out all the books I had out for the Resource Guide were due Sept. 22. Oops. Plus they still had my $4 that I payed off at the beginning of the semester listed. Went back home to renew the books, got two of the essays needed copied, and read for class. Went to class and discovered that I had more essaies to copy from the book. Signed up for a presentation on postcolonialism lit. theory. I don't even know what that is. Okay I think I know what it is, blame the white man through his novels. Mind you, that won't be the attitude I use for the presentation. Watch while the only other person I sorta know in the class--she just joined cast for the RenFaire--swooped in on the idea I was thinking for the big research paper. I might still be able to use it, but now I haven't to make sure I have a different tatic. Went home disgusted for supper. Talked to Chad on the phone.
Today I made it to work at 6:30 a.m. I can't win with the traffic. It's either too soon or too late. Gee, I can't wait for the sleep depravation psychosis to start again. I brought my stuff for the Thursday night class, only to discover I don't have a revised schedule. I tried revising it myself and ran out of days. I'm reading what comes next, but the assignment after this one doesn't tell you where to find what we're supposed to read. And she doesn't have any due dates for the papers we're supposed to write. And in between storms it feels like we've lost a month of work time.
I got one set of shelves up in the living room and rearrange my fiction books. The DVDs and VCR tapes were rearranged, blending in what Chad left with me. Most of his books--the ones I don't need for research--will probably end up on the new shelves, but hidden by the couch. I still need to put up the kitchen set of shelves, and the library and other borrowed books will probably move to it. I still have to do so rearranging on the non-fiction books, and then I need to put stickers on the spines like the libraries do. The stack of books that I have to look up where they go on the shelves isn't working with my available desk space.
I always seem to have a lot more to say while at work.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
INSERT PHOTO OF FRONT YARD
I burned the pile of debris that Chad and I had gathered post-Katrina, and that was the "big" stuff. There's still scattered mess in the back yard, as well as dealing with where the burn pile was that Chad wants to turn into a garden. I haven't had the energy to argue with him over how a garden is going to be cared for since all I do is drive and he's living with his mother. I guess Mustard is supposed to pull up weeds.
We still need to cut down the other crepe myrtle. I was extremely lucky Rita didn't knock it down. It's too close to the house to just let it fall when it wants to go. The cedar and the camilla both need trimming, though the camilla is supposed to be after it's bloomed. I need to trim the gardenia and hydragena bushes.
And then there's the fig tree. Okay, the fig tree is ancient as far as fig trees go. We're supposed to start new plantings off of it because it won't last much longer. The center of it came crashing down with Rita. I can't see through the weedy undergrowth too see how bad the damage is (my fear of snakes got a couple of shocks this past weekend and I have avoided poking into the mess.) so again, I'm waiting.
By 1 p.m. I had bathed and went to lunch on campus. Then I marched to the library to get the essays on Great Expectations. I couldn't check the book because of fines. Turns out all the books I had out for the Resource Guide were due Sept. 22. Oops. Plus they still had my $4 that I payed off at the beginning of the semester listed. Went back home to renew the books, got two of the essays needed copied, and read for class. Went to class and discovered that I had more essaies to copy from the book. Signed up for a presentation on postcolonialism lit. theory. I don't even know what that is. Okay I think I know what it is, blame the white man through his novels. Mind you, that won't be the attitude I use for the presentation. Watch while the only other person I sorta know in the class--she just joined cast for the RenFaire--swooped in on the idea I was thinking for the big research paper. I might still be able to use it, but now I haven't to make sure I have a different tatic. Went home disgusted for supper. Talked to Chad on the phone.
Today I made it to work at 6:30 a.m. I can't win with the traffic. It's either too soon or too late. Gee, I can't wait for the sleep depravation psychosis to start again. I brought my stuff for the Thursday night class, only to discover I don't have a revised schedule. I tried revising it myself and ran out of days. I'm reading what comes next, but the assignment after this one doesn't tell you where to find what we're supposed to read. And she doesn't have any due dates for the papers we're supposed to write. And in between storms it feels like we've lost a month of work time.
I got one set of shelves up in the living room and rearrange my fiction books. The DVDs and VCR tapes were rearranged, blending in what Chad left with me. Most of his books--the ones I don't need for research--will probably end up on the new shelves, but hidden by the couch. I still need to put up the kitchen set of shelves, and the library and other borrowed books will probably move to it. I still have to do so rearranging on the non-fiction books, and then I need to put stickers on the spines like the libraries do. The stack of books that I have to look up where they go on the shelves isn't working with my available desk space.
I always seem to have a lot more to say while at work.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Hello, faithful reader
*Sigh* I want a cool nickname for a fanbase. I guess I better get a fanbase first, huh?
Trying to get my house in order part two: I had to go buy shelves. It's not entirely my book buying self's fault. I have a lot of books checked out from the library, school books, and housing some of Chad's books since he evacuated to Lafayette. I finally got my boiled peanut goodness. I've been promising myself a can since right after Katrina hit.
Let's see, what else have I accomplished? Pictures scattered through the Garb Closet now, downloaded a couple of new programs (yWriter and BookCAT) that I have to play with later.
Now I have to go put shelves together and rearrange things. Will be bakc later to say how it went.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Trying to get my house in order part two: I had to go buy shelves. It's not entirely my book buying self's fault. I have a lot of books checked out from the library, school books, and housing some of Chad's books since he evacuated to Lafayette. I finally got my boiled peanut goodness. I've been promising myself a can since right after Katrina hit.
Let's see, what else have I accomplished? Pictures scattered through the Garb Closet now, downloaded a couple of new programs (yWriter and BookCAT) that I have to play with later.
Now I have to go put shelves together and rearrange things. Will be bakc later to say how it went.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Hurrican Rita
Yeah I survived. Chad survived. I lost power for almost 24 hours, but if that was all I have so little to complain about.
The rest of the state not looking so pretty. But I really can't go into reporting mode about it right now. I wore myself out by cleaning house all day. Still have a room and a half to go and that's not counting the outside work either.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
The rest of the state not looking so pretty. But I really can't go into reporting mode about it right now. I wore myself out by cleaning house all day. Still have a room and a half to go and that's not counting the outside work either.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Friday, September 23, 2005
Where I am
I thought some pictures would help. The red star is where my house is.
And here I am in relation to Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Chad's mother lives in Lafayette, and Chad is with her. Just follow the red line west.
And following this link, you can see where Rita is planning to go: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at3+shtml/085714.shtml?3day.
We're supposed to leave work at noon. I have food, and bought water yesterday. I'll get a little bit more gas to keep the tank full.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
And here I am in relation to Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Chad's mother lives in Lafayette, and Chad is with her. Just follow the red line west.
And following this link, you can see where Rita is planning to go: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at3+shtml/085714.shtml?3day.
We're supposed to leave work at noon. I have food, and bought water yesterday. I'll get a little bit more gas to keep the tank full.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Thursday, September 22, 2005
The BookWorm's Library
Okay, the modem is finally stable. Yeah! I got the website up from the last back up. Yeah!
New material? Definately after hurricane season. Just don't ask me for a specific date yet.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
New material? Definately after hurricane season. Just don't ask me for a specific date yet.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Rita plans
Yeah, we have another hurrican in the Gulf. Fortunately, it looks like she's aiming for Texas or southwestern Louisiana. So I'm not running. But I might be getting Chad and his mother and their cats at my house, if they can get gas and get out of Lafayette. He said their gas stations were already had people backing up and waiting in lines.
I'm skipping class tonight to clean house and get supplies ready. Must be ready in case we lose power again. *Sigh* I bet I don't get my new toilet put in this weekend either.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
I'm skipping class tonight to clean house and get supplies ready. Must be ready in case we lose power again. *Sigh* I bet I don't get my new toilet put in this weekend either.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
| Your Birthdate: February 26 |
 Your birth on the 26th day of the month (8 energy) modifies your life by increasing your capability to function and succeed in the business world. In this environment you have the skills to work very well with others thanks to the 2 and 6 energies combining in this date. There is a marked increase in organizational, managerial, and administrative abilities. You are efficient and handle money very well. You're ambitious and energetic, while generally remaining cooperative and adaptable. You are conscientious and not afraid of responsibility. Generally sociable and diplomatic, you tend to use persuasion rather than force. You have a wonderful combination of being good at both the broad strokes and the fine detail; good at starting and continuing. This birthday is practical and realistic, often seeking material satisfaction. |
Thanks Mez, but I don't think it's totally me. At least not with the money stuff. Though I have been improving.
In other news: I spent most of the night fighting with the new modem and whinning to my boyfriend. He at least was able to find some patches I needed. Finally got them up this morning. It should be working now, but it maybe tomorrow before I get to see. Tonight is a class night and I haven't read for it.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Well, my good news that didn't even last 24 hours
What I didn't want to spoil last night with the iffy ground blogging can be at times, especially when it comes to work.
I had a job interview today. I went to job interview today. I was really thrilled because getting the interview meant I had a chance of actually getting this job at Southeastern in Hammond with a 30-minute commute (at the most).
The ladies were really nice and apologetic. The governor had just declared a hiring freeze for state civil service jobs that morning. They called my current job to try to stop me from coming, but I had decided to kill two birds and had scheduled a doctor's appointment today too. I never went in.
I interviewed, stressed how I was willing to come in again once the hiring freeze was over. I haven't cried yet, but I didn't spend the amount of time I thought I would be on housework. It took 2 hours to get the DSL modem up and running.
I'll probably be on for a while in between housework. I still have a site to upload after all.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
I had a job interview today. I went to job interview today. I was really thrilled because getting the interview meant I had a chance of actually getting this job at Southeastern in Hammond with a 30-minute commute (at the most).
The ladies were really nice and apologetic. The governor had just declared a hiring freeze for state civil service jobs that morning. They called my current job to try to stop me from coming, but I had decided to kill two birds and had scheduled a doctor's appointment today too. I never went in.
I interviewed, stressed how I was willing to come in again once the hiring freeze was over. I haven't cried yet, but I didn't spend the amount of time I thought I would be on housework. It took 2 hours to get the DSL modem up and running.
I'll probably be on for a while in between housework. I still have a site to upload after all.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
MODEM!
Okay, Mustard dropped the keyboard onto the floor and now it's acting funny. Course, it could be due to the automatic downloads.
Anyways, Chad set up the back-up dial-up part of my DSL package over the weekend while we were waiting for the DSL modem to arrive. Remember I had said either Monday or Tuesday should be the delivery date.
Monday was hell. I hadn't slept good at Chad's mother's house, was at work ungodly early in the morning, got to class late of course, and found out at 7:30pm the place I wanted to eat closed at 7pm. I got on the Interstate to go home. I couldn't get off at my exit and state troopers were everywhere. Okay back track to Hammond and take the backroads home. I ended up having to go two exits east just to get off the Interstate.
8:30pm by the time I got home. Been up officially since 4:30am (unofficially since about 2am), get into my house through the back door and see answering machine. Message cheered me up--more on that in a later post--and I called Chad to let him know I was home. Did the modem arrive? Checked front porch and no boxes. Go to bed.
Tuesday morning, dragging around trying to get ready for work. Remember I left bag of clothes in my car. Go out to get them and see the big CDW box right beside my back door steps. I was so exhausted and hadn't even registered last night. Laugh at myself and go to work.
Taking Wednesday off to handle business and doctors and house cleaning and writing. Hopefully not all at once. I start setting up the modem. It's a nice one built-in router, firewall, and wireless networking. But there are still cords to deal with. Last cord in the box is the phone cord. It's too short to reach the only phone jack in my house. I'm still on the dial-up typing this.
See told you it was a funny story. Gets better. Need new shoes for tomorrow. Only open shoe store in Hammond is right next to Office Depot. Had I not been a good girl and gotten dressed and went to work without playing with the new hardware, I could have bought a longer phone cord to go with my new black pumps!
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Anyways, Chad set up the back-up dial-up part of my DSL package over the weekend while we were waiting for the DSL modem to arrive. Remember I had said either Monday or Tuesday should be the delivery date.
Monday was hell. I hadn't slept good at Chad's mother's house, was at work ungodly early in the morning, got to class late of course, and found out at 7:30pm the place I wanted to eat closed at 7pm. I got on the Interstate to go home. I couldn't get off at my exit and state troopers were everywhere. Okay back track to Hammond and take the backroads home. I ended up having to go two exits east just to get off the Interstate.
8:30pm by the time I got home. Been up officially since 4:30am (unofficially since about 2am), get into my house through the back door and see answering machine. Message cheered me up--more on that in a later post--and I called Chad to let him know I was home. Did the modem arrive? Checked front porch and no boxes. Go to bed.
Tuesday morning, dragging around trying to get ready for work. Remember I left bag of clothes in my car. Go out to get them and see the big CDW box right beside my back door steps. I was so exhausted and hadn't even registered last night. Laugh at myself and go to work.
Taking Wednesday off to handle business and doctors and house cleaning and writing. Hopefully not all at once. I start setting up the modem. It's a nice one built-in router, firewall, and wireless networking. But there are still cords to deal with. Last cord in the box is the phone cord. It's too short to reach the only phone jack in my house. I'm still on the dial-up typing this.
See told you it was a funny story. Gets better. Need new shoes for tomorrow. Only open shoe store in Hammond is right next to Office Depot. Had I not been a good girl and gotten dressed and went to work without playing with the new hardware, I could have bought a longer phone cord to go with my new black pumps!
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Catching up
Yeah, I'm trying to figure out what I missed with Red Planet while I was distracted. I'm trying to do it now so at lunch I can concentrate on writing.
Expect more from me later.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Expect more from me later.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Monday, September 19, 2005
No really I hate driving
Back and forth. Back and forth. All over town for anything and everything. Getting railroaded into a social dinner when it was supposed to be a business meeting one. What specificially irks about that one is I got booted away from stuff like that before I started dating Chad, and now I'm dragged to them whether I want to go or not. There is such a thing as too nice.
I can only hope that I will actually get the new toilet installed next weekend. And hopefully more gutting of the bathroom. I'm trying to channel all this mid-project no progress stress into house cleaning.
Slept over at Chad's mother last night after dropping him off for the week. His cat tore up my toiletries bag for entertainment. *Shrugs* Got to work at ungodly early this morning. I don't like waking up at 2am. But it was a good thing, since the alarm clock didn't go off.
I got some of the reading done for class. Expect to see some reading notes soon. I'm also going to add some links to the blog so I can find my favorites.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
I can only hope that I will actually get the new toilet installed next weekend. And hopefully more gutting of the bathroom. I'm trying to channel all this mid-project no progress stress into house cleaning.
Slept over at Chad's mother last night after dropping him off for the week. His cat tore up my toiletries bag for entertainment. *Shrugs* Got to work at ungodly early this morning. I don't like waking up at 2am. But it was a good thing, since the alarm clock didn't go off.
I got some of the reading done for class. Expect to see some reading notes soon. I'm also going to add some links to the blog so I can find my favorites.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Friday, September 16, 2005
Back to web presense
The waiting halfway paid off. The BookWorm's Library is up at a new domain name: http://www.bookwormlibrary.us Now, up is qualified with as soon as I get the new modem the rest of the content will be up and it'll look just like you remember it.
Yeah, see the previous post on that.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Yeah, see the previous post on that.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Waiting, waiting, waiting
Well, I got the "we shipped your order" email from CDW today. Which means that the earlier email that I was basing my "when the modem will be here" expectations on was just an order confirmation and threw me off track.
Bought domain names and sever space to bring the Library back up. Looking over my backup CD, and looks like I have a few odds and ends mostly in the hotlinking folder that could be lost. Unless I did a smart thing and kept those items in the hotlinking folder on my harddrive. ... ... Yeah, I'm not holding out much hope for that either. Now I'm just waiting for the server to send me an email giving me the instructions to change the info on my domain name before telling the world--or at least the small portion that cares--what the new domain name is.
Paid all my bills except for the credit card. That payment depends on the home improvements shopping that must be done this weekend.
Still no email from server people. Still no modem. Still no shopping.
Did I mention I hate waiting?
In other news, Chad made some news. http://renstore.com/Katrina.asp He gets a mention, while the owners get pictures. Okay it's hard to see Alvon on the backhoe. And the piles of dirt were not left by Katrina, but the trees on top of the dirt were. If you've got issues giving to the Red Cross--and we've got horror stories about how they treat the donations other than cash--you can give to LRF Katrina Relief Fund and it will go to people who need it.
Thursday night class... *glassy-eyed stare* I have notes, they'll probably go up after I recover. When I recover?
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Bought domain names and sever space to bring the Library back up. Looking over my backup CD, and looks like I have a few odds and ends mostly in the hotlinking folder that could be lost. Unless I did a smart thing and kept those items in the hotlinking folder on my harddrive. ... ... Yeah, I'm not holding out much hope for that either. Now I'm just waiting for the server to send me an email giving me the instructions to change the info on my domain name before telling the world--or at least the small portion that cares--what the new domain name is.
Paid all my bills except for the credit card. That payment depends on the home improvements shopping that must be done this weekend.
Still no email from server people. Still no modem. Still no shopping.
Did I mention I hate waiting?
In other news, Chad made some news. http://renstore.com/Katrina.asp He gets a mention, while the owners get pictures. Okay it's hard to see Alvon on the backhoe. And the piles of dirt were not left by Katrina, but the trees on top of the dirt were. If you've got issues giving to the Red Cross--and we've got horror stories about how they treat the donations other than cash--you can give to LRF Katrina Relief Fund and it will go to people who need it.
Thursday night class... *glassy-eyed stare* I have notes, they'll probably go up after I recover. When I recover?
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Writer's Pique Continued
Mid-project blues? Probably a portion of the feeling. I don't remember feeling it this often though. Maybe less projects? Less demands on time? I keep getting the urge to make lists. But I've already gone through my stories and made my assignment list for them. (Okay, I do have to FIND the list, but I know it's in the paper basket in the living room.) So where did I flub this time? Because I flubbed somewhere in my plans and it's not Katrina's fault.
I never got my research done on markets, so I never did my grand mailout. Hence I've been stuck. I also don't like how the clutter is... well... cluttering. Bad chi everywhere. So I need to clean, cleanse, read, mail, and write.
And no time is hardly a valid excuse. I find plenty of time to waste. Right now is slow at work and I'm not taking advantage of it. Just like the exercising.
All right, enough of the self-bashing. I'm going to do those things. But first I have a paying obligation to finish the resource guide and then a non-paying obligation.
Still my observation for this morning is why do I torture myself with lists of good intentions that I can never finish? Yesterday, I made a 9 item list and got hung up with item one--shopping for necessities--for an hour longer than I expected. 30 minutes of it actually spent in the checkout line for two items but hell, that was all it took to wipe out the rest of my energy. Class tonight, so it's shot too. Friday I have to myself, maybe I can seen some progress.
And hopefully my new modem will be delivered and I can put my office back together too. Meanwhile I've killed a notebook and need to transfer stuff from it and get to work on the resource guide. And find a snack, I forgot breakfast today.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
I never got my research done on markets, so I never did my grand mailout. Hence I've been stuck. I also don't like how the clutter is... well... cluttering. Bad chi everywhere. So I need to clean, cleanse, read, mail, and write.
And no time is hardly a valid excuse. I find plenty of time to waste. Right now is slow at work and I'm not taking advantage of it. Just like the exercising.
All right, enough of the self-bashing. I'm going to do those things. But first I have a paying obligation to finish the resource guide and then a non-paying obligation.
Still my observation for this morning is why do I torture myself with lists of good intentions that I can never finish? Yesterday, I made a 9 item list and got hung up with item one--shopping for necessities--for an hour longer than I expected. 30 minutes of it actually spent in the checkout line for two items but hell, that was all it took to wipe out the rest of my energy. Class tonight, so it's shot too. Friday I have to myself, maybe I can seen some progress.
And hopefully my new modem will be delivered and I can put my office back together too. Meanwhile I've killed a notebook and need to transfer stuff from it and get to work on the resource guide. And find a snack, I forgot breakfast today.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Writer's Fit
Or maybe I should call it Writer's Tantrum. Whatever to call it, it's that overwhelming urge to shove everything off your desk and start from scratch with something new. I've been feeling it bad the last two days, but have restrained myself. Mostly because I can't find any unfinished stories on my desk (it's filled with book piles right this second) and because I come home too exhausted to throw anything no matter how much it would refresh the child within. It's also stemming from frustration and I figure the frustration actually has a different source, I just haven't found it yet. Though I think the frustration mostly boils down to not wanting to be in Baton Rouge when there is so much ___________ (fill-in-the-blank) to do at home. Maybe it should be Writer's Pique.
Other news, the Webcomics Hurricane Relief Telethon is on day 2 and going strong at $21,880. Drop in and give and read through the comics. A new comic is added every 20 minutes. And it was originally going to be one day (yesterday), but the comics given to participate extended it till Sept. 15. David Willis's (It's Walky) entry is a hoot. Jamie Robertson's (Clan of Cats) 2cd entry is poignant.
Eye of the Storm is reporting from Mississippi, which got the direct hit from the eye of Katrina. That's right folks, New Orleans got a glancing blow that could have been even worse. He's taking pictures of landmarks I know. One of the first family vacations I can remember was down to Ships Island.
So in my quest to remain thankful for what I have--I am thankful that I still have bills to pay because it means I have the things to pay bills on. Now off to actually pay them. :p
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Other news, the Webcomics Hurricane Relief Telethon is on day 2 and going strong at $21,880. Drop in and give and read through the comics. A new comic is added every 20 minutes. And it was originally going to be one day (yesterday), but the comics given to participate extended it till Sept. 15. David Willis's (It's Walky) entry is a hoot. Jamie Robertson's (Clan of Cats) 2cd entry is poignant.
Eye of the Storm is reporting from Mississippi, which got the direct hit from the eye of Katrina. That's right folks, New Orleans got a glancing blow that could have been even worse. He's taking pictures of landmarks I know. One of the first family vacations I can remember was down to Ships Island.
So in my quest to remain thankful for what I have--I am thankful that I still have bills to pay because it means I have the things to pay bills on. Now off to actually pay them. :p
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
ENGL-575 Lecture Notes for Sept. 12
I hate arriving late at class. Yesterday, I was 30 minutes late and surprised it wasn't more. I've already told my professors of my circumstances, and it is none of the other students' business. But they all give me that "who the hell are you look" which makes me grab the first seat available. Why is that one the one right in front of the door in the front row?
I don't know how long I can keep this schedule up either. I'm not getting enough sleep, and now I'm trying to leave the house around 5:30am. It ended up being 5:45 this morning and I got to work at 6:40am. But when I left at 6am yesterday, I just barely got to work on time.
The rest of this post is me trying to make sense of my lecture notes. Feel free to skip it. I tried talking out loud about it, and Chad thought we were having an actual discussion about literature and literary theory. Threatening to enroll him in the class finally stopped that last night. So this is my second attempt.
Barthes
One theory is creator/slueth. Author = producer of text, the creator. Reader = consumer of text, the slueth.
Barthes view point: think about the work as a text and use the signifiers to interact and create meaning.
Text without an author, read the text and produce a different experience of the text (each and every time read). Barthes was writing about hypertext literature before hypertext.
Trying to liberate literature from decrypting.
Critics - looking for the author's hidden meaning.
What happens to the critics's purpose when all your looking at is just the text?
1). Look at themselves and their reading experience.
2). Differen set of skills put into analysis.
3). All readers become critics and the difference between writers and critics disappears.
4). Frees criticism to become creative.
We get meaning for the content of the story.
Barthes - look for meaning in the sounds of the words. Text is open to the context of the reader's life. Reader produces the text; text produces the reader.
Aethestic view
Judeo-Christian - applies meta-physical concepts to text, Barthes says there's nothing beyond the text.
Structuralism - what is language?
A word has meaning because it says it's not another word.
Closed system
Barthes interested in how words interplay with each other.
How can you communicate when communication depends on common definitions?
We have all internalizied the system of language.
Model of lit. studies = production of knowledge.
I can produce the pleasure of the text and share that and create a text to explain it which can be read by someone else who can create their own response.
Theory produces knowledge but destroys the simple pleasure of reading. Barthes proposes that this theory kills that joy. How do we open up criticism to play?
We move away from the idea of "the work" we're moving away from hierarchy to democracy.
Bakhtin
When reading, we look for the voice of the author either as a narrator or as a character - putting the author in control. Bakhtin suggests that it's crazy to look for that.
Different tongues - heteroglossia, different voices.
Bakhtin's theory is a more abstract theory, but well practiced since he had to curtail language to save his own head.
Language supporting the status quo = normative language
Language is open ended
Poetry strives for a unitarian/monological language.
Novel allows the non-normative language or subsets of language to be embraced and orchestrated.
Social role of poetry = establish and enshrine the language and values of the ruling class.
Social role of the novel = embraces variety of language and competing world views and gives us a picture of a certain moment of time.
Tolstoy awareness of response, aware of the compteing world view and the response it will have on the reader. All these bits of lnaguage are in conversation with each other and yor response as a reader.
Looking for the historical background and world view behind the writing of the novel including political and socio-economical moments. Read a novel to find the conflicts behind it and the way any part of the novel is a response to it.
Barthes - just have fun with the text
Dickens
The idea of a gentleman - born or made?
The new order that is coming, is it good or bad?
Dickens's style is the way he combines all the languages to create his novel.
When I make an assumption about the text, I'm making a counter-assumption at the same time, so my assumption is shaped by the counter-assumption.
dialectic
monoletic
heteroglossia
carnivalesque
Bakhtin in the era of globalization?
Read Free!
The BookWorm
I don't know how long I can keep this schedule up either. I'm not getting enough sleep, and now I'm trying to leave the house around 5:30am. It ended up being 5:45 this morning and I got to work at 6:40am. But when I left at 6am yesterday, I just barely got to work on time.
The rest of this post is me trying to make sense of my lecture notes. Feel free to skip it. I tried talking out loud about it, and Chad thought we were having an actual discussion about literature and literary theory. Threatening to enroll him in the class finally stopped that last night. So this is my second attempt.
Barthes
One theory is creator/slueth. Author = producer of text, the creator. Reader = consumer of text, the slueth.
Barthes view point: think about the work as a text and use the signifiers to interact and create meaning.
Text without an author, read the text and produce a different experience of the text (each and every time read). Barthes was writing about hypertext literature before hypertext.
Trying to liberate literature from decrypting.
Critics - looking for the author's hidden meaning.
What happens to the critics's purpose when all your looking at is just the text?
1). Look at themselves and their reading experience.
2). Differen set of skills put into analysis.
3). All readers become critics and the difference between writers and critics disappears.
4). Frees criticism to become creative.
We get meaning for the content of the story.
Barthes - look for meaning in the sounds of the words. Text is open to the context of the reader's life. Reader produces the text; text produces the reader.
Aethestic view
Judeo-Christian - applies meta-physical concepts to text, Barthes says there's nothing beyond the text.
Structuralism - what is language?
A word has meaning because it says it's not another word.
Closed system
Barthes interested in how words interplay with each other.
How can you communicate when communication depends on common definitions?
We have all internalizied the system of language.
Model of lit. studies = production of knowledge.
I can produce the pleasure of the text and share that and create a text to explain it which can be read by someone else who can create their own response.
Theory produces knowledge but destroys the simple pleasure of reading. Barthes proposes that this theory kills that joy. How do we open up criticism to play?
We move away from the idea of "the work" we're moving away from hierarchy to democracy.
Bakhtin
When reading, we look for the voice of the author either as a narrator or as a character - putting the author in control. Bakhtin suggests that it's crazy to look for that.
Different tongues - heteroglossia, different voices.
Bakhtin's theory is a more abstract theory, but well practiced since he had to curtail language to save his own head.
Language supporting the status quo = normative language
Language is open ended
Poetry strives for a unitarian/monological language.
Novel allows the non-normative language or subsets of language to be embraced and orchestrated.
Social role of poetry = establish and enshrine the language and values of the ruling class.
Social role of the novel = embraces variety of language and competing world views and gives us a picture of a certain moment of time.
Tolstoy awareness of response, aware of the compteing world view and the response it will have on the reader. All these bits of lnaguage are in conversation with each other and yor response as a reader.
Looking for the historical background and world view behind the writing of the novel including political and socio-economical moments. Read a novel to find the conflicts behind it and the way any part of the novel is a response to it.
Barthes - just have fun with the text
Dickens
The idea of a gentleman - born or made?
The new order that is coming, is it good or bad?
Dickens's style is the way he combines all the languages to create his novel.
When I make an assumption about the text, I'm making a counter-assumption at the same time, so my assumption is shaped by the counter-assumption.
dialectic
monoletic
heteroglossia
carnivalesque
Bakhtin in the era of globalization?
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Monday, September 12, 2005
ENGL-575 Reading Notes Post 1
Bakhtin
Living language exhibits heteroglossia (described the "internal stratification" of language: the interplay among its social dialects, class dialects, professional jargons, languages of generations and age groups and of passing fads)
It celebrates the multiplicity of all those "centrifugal" forces at work in language, the variety of social speech types and the diversity of voices interacting with one another.
Treatment of the novel was limited to little more than abstract ideological examination and publicistic commentary.
Sept. 13, 2005: Maybe I would like all of this a whole lot better if I could figure out how to apply it to make me a better writer.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
- carnivalesque - forms of unofficial culture that resist official culture, political oppression, and tolalitarian order through laughter, parody, and "grotesque realism"
- chronotope - the intrinsic connectedness of time and space and their central role in constituting literary genres
- dialogism of language - the "intense interanimation and struggle between one's own and another's word"
Living language exhibits heteroglossia (described the "internal stratification" of language: the interplay among its social dialects, class dialects, professional jargons, languages of generations and age groups and of passing fads)
It celebrates the multiplicity of all those "centrifugal" forces at work in language, the variety of social speech types and the diversity of voices interacting with one another.
Treatment of the novel was limited to little more than abstract ideological examination and publicistic commentary.
Sept. 13, 2005: Maybe I would like all of this a whole lot better if I could figure out how to apply it to make me a better writer.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Home Again
Hammond is fully operational, though having an Army base on our little league soccer field is a little surreal. So I'm back at my house, but will probably have to leave home a half-hour earlier to make it through the traffic. *Whimper*
Finally a Yankee who gets it, Barack Obama of Illinois. http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/09/11/katrina.washington.ap/index.html I especially like his quote on SUVs.
My last comments on Laurie King's blog. It's not fair to take it out on those who are in no position to change policy. Never forget, but it's time to focus on making things better.
I still haven't really unpacked or hooked in my computer. I did order a modem, which should be delivered sometime this week. Once that's in I can start working from home again on everything. Of course I fell down on getting any school work done. But hey, our professors had to evacuate too. I'll just have to spend some time doing catch up, homework and writing wise.
Ugh, computer gets plugged in tonight after class. Now I have to start reading assignments.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Finally a Yankee who gets it, Barack Obama of Illinois. http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/09/11/katrina.washington.ap/index.html I especially like his quote on SUVs.
My last comments on Laurie King's blog. It's not fair to take it out on those who are in no position to change policy. Never forget, but it's time to focus on making things better.
I still haven't really unpacked or hooked in my computer. I did order a modem, which should be delivered sometime this week. Once that's in I can start working from home again on everything. Of course I fell down on getting any school work done. But hey, our professors had to evacuate too. I'll just have to spend some time doing catch up, homework and writing wise.
Ugh, computer gets plugged in tonight after class. Now I have to start reading assignments.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Traffic nightmares
My friend Jamie Haeuser from the Renaissiance Festival has started a blog on Katrina stories: Katrine Hospital Reports. She's a bigwig (a Vice President of something, I think but can't confirm off the top of my fuzzy memory) at Women's Hospital in Baton Rouge (where I was born 28 years ago) and they've been saving the babies and moms out of New Orleans.
My friend Marcie found this great peice of animation that explains a lot of frustration we feel towards the media. Be warned, the squirrel doesn't bleep.
And now we got another Yankee asshole: U.S. Congressman Rapes Louisiana’s Reputation Over U.S. Katrina Fund.
*Sigh* A nice post overall from Laurie King, but now the whole country is using the wrong word to describe evacuees. Hmm, so should a portion of our relief funds go to buying journalists dictionaries? Yes, I did correct it because I'm anal that way. But tithing should be essential no matter what your religious creed. Suze Orman spoke about it as well. We all have a responsibility to give. I'm guilty of forgetting to, and will be balancing my checkbook to see what I can do.
Well in good news, I started this post worried that I would have to fight horrendous traffic to get to the starting classes at SLU today. I've got word now that the Thursday night's professor is still out of town and I don't have to go. Next week is still up in the air. Though I'm hoping that the situation in Baton Rouge will be better. Things have calmed down in Lafayette--at least on a personal level--though I didn't get to write last night due to running around checking on aid, I did get a little bit accomplished during lunch. Hopefully I'll get a little bit more accomplished today.
I have to call home and make doubly sure that they don't need anything from me tonight. I feel guilty about Mustard. I'm sure he's not happy and probably feels that I have abandoned him. But him being at home is much better on all the cats, him included.
Even in the midst of this drama, my life is still pretty tame. Sad really, but in a good way.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
My friend Marcie found this great peice of animation that explains a lot of frustration we feel towards the media. Be warned, the squirrel doesn't bleep.
And now we got another Yankee asshole: U.S. Congressman Rapes Louisiana’s Reputation Over U.S. Katrina Fund.
*Sigh* A nice post overall from Laurie King, but now the whole country is using the wrong word to describe evacuees. Hmm, so should a portion of our relief funds go to buying journalists dictionaries? Yes, I did correct it because I'm anal that way. But tithing should be essential no matter what your religious creed. Suze Orman spoke about it as well. We all have a responsibility to give. I'm guilty of forgetting to, and will be balancing my checkbook to see what I can do.
Well in good news, I started this post worried that I would have to fight horrendous traffic to get to the starting classes at SLU today. I've got word now that the Thursday night's professor is still out of town and I don't have to go. Next week is still up in the air. Though I'm hoping that the situation in Baton Rouge will be better. Things have calmed down in Lafayette--at least on a personal level--though I didn't get to write last night due to running around checking on aid, I did get a little bit accomplished during lunch. Hopefully I'll get a little bit more accomplished today.
I have to call home and make doubly sure that they don't need anything from me tonight. I feel guilty about Mustard. I'm sure he's not happy and probably feels that I have abandoned him. But him being at home is much better on all the cats, him included.
Even in the midst of this drama, my life is still pretty tame. Sad really, but in a good way.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Safe and Sound
September 6, 2005: For those who haven't been reading up comments made to the last posts, this is a bit of an update. I left Natchitoches to stay with my boyfriend and his mother in Lafayette. Electricity has been restored to my house and it never got blown away. Nothing landed on it either, though I did lose some big branches. Possibly some trees in my woods, but I'm not going back to look until December. Snakes, need I say more?
However the gasoline is necessary for me to get back and forth. Hammond is the last stop for the harder hit areas further east. So the stores that have it are rationing it. Baton Rouge is limited due to all the people using it. So I'm still in Lafayette.
September 7, 2005: I didn't realize how long I was staying quiet. It's hard to pull the computer away--my boyfriend in particular--plus with the flux in usability, it was easier just to stay out of the way. Sorry if I alarmed you unneccessarily.
University classes resume on Thursday, and I'll have to sleep at my house tomorrow and see how things are. I talked to my mother on the phone and she says things are looking better. Ponchatoula is nearly impossible to navigate with people trying to go back to New Orleans area. Hammond is more energizied, and news says there is at least three companies relocating to the city. Pumpkin Center is still 90% without power, but we're rural. That's going to take a while.
I don't think staying in Lafayette going to be long term, but I can't really plan until more gas stations are up and I see what the price is going to be. Over $3 dollars a gallon is going to hurt hard when I have 10 gallon fuel tank in my car and empty it in two days of normal traffic driving. And since a good portion of the population has shifted west, traffic is a far cry from normal. Baton Rouge is hurting. The Road infrustucture couldn't handle the previous local traffic and the city now has somewhere from 800,000 to 1 million. Previously 400,000 b.k. (Before Katrina. Thought about going with Before Storm but those initials are already in use.)
Do You Know What It Means to Lose New Orleans by Anne Rice, the op-ed peice published in the New York Times. We will come back from this. Some things will change but some things never will. And the things that never will are parts of the souls of us crazy people known as South Louisianians.
This article was written by Chris Rose and sent via email.
Well said, brother. Well, said.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
However the gasoline is necessary for me to get back and forth. Hammond is the last stop for the harder hit areas further east. So the stores that have it are rationing it. Baton Rouge is limited due to all the people using it. So I'm still in Lafayette.
September 7, 2005: I didn't realize how long I was staying quiet. It's hard to pull the computer away--my boyfriend in particular--plus with the flux in usability, it was easier just to stay out of the way. Sorry if I alarmed you unneccessarily.
University classes resume on Thursday, and I'll have to sleep at my house tomorrow and see how things are. I talked to my mother on the phone and she says things are looking better. Ponchatoula is nearly impossible to navigate with people trying to go back to New Orleans area. Hammond is more energizied, and news says there is at least three companies relocating to the city. Pumpkin Center is still 90% without power, but we're rural. That's going to take a while.
I don't think staying in Lafayette going to be long term, but I can't really plan until more gas stations are up and I see what the price is going to be. Over $3 dollars a gallon is going to hurt hard when I have 10 gallon fuel tank in my car and empty it in two days of normal traffic driving. And since a good portion of the population has shifted west, traffic is a far cry from normal. Baton Rouge is hurting. The Road infrustucture couldn't handle the previous local traffic and the city now has somewhere from 800,000 to 1 million. Previously 400,000 b.k. (Before Katrina. Thought about going with Before Storm but those initials are already in use.)
Do You Know What It Means to Lose New Orleans by Anne Rice, the op-ed peice published in the New York Times. We will come back from this. Some things will change but some things never will. And the things that never will are parts of the souls of us crazy people known as South Louisianians.
This article was written by Chris Rose and sent via email.
Dear America,
I suppose we should introduce ourselves: We're South Louisiana.
We have arrived on your doorstep on short notice and we apologize for
that, but we never were much for waiting around for invitations.
We're not much on formalities like that.
And we might be staying around your town for a while, enrolling in
your schools and looking for jobs, so we wanted to tell you a few
things about us. We know you didn't ask for this and neither did we,
so we're just going to have to make the best of it.
First of all, we thank you. For your money, your water, your food,
your prayers, your boats and buses and the men and women of your
National Guards, fire departments, hospitals and everyone else who
has come to our rescue.
We're a fiercely proud and independent people, and we don't cotton
much to outside interference, but we're not ashamed to accept help
when we need it. And right now, we need it.
Just don't get carried away. For instance, once we get around to
fishing again, don't try to tell us what kind of lures work best in
your waters.
We're not going to listen. We're stubborn that way.
You probably already know that we talk funny and listen to strange
music and eat things you'd probably hire an exterminator to get out
of your yard.
We dance even if there's no radio. We drink at funerals. We talk too
much and laugh too loud and live too large and, frankly, we're
suspicious of others who don't.
But we'll try not to judge you while we're in your town.
Everybody loves their home, we know that. But we love South Louisiana
with a ferocity that borders on the pathological. Sometimes we bury
our dead in LSU sweatshirts.
Often we don't make sense. You may wonder why, for instance - if we
could only carry one small bag of belongings with us on our journey
to your state - why in God's name did we bring a pair of shrimp boots?
We can't really explain that. It is what it is.
You've probably heard that many of us stayed behind. As bad as it is,
many of us cannot fathom a life outside of our border, out in that
place we call Elsewhere.
The only way you could understand that is if you have been there, and
so many of you have. So you realize that when you strip away all the
craziness and bars and parades and music and architecture and all
that hooey, really, the best thing about where we come from is us.
We are what made this place a national treasure. We're good people.
And don't be afraid to ask us how to pronounce our names. It happens
all the time.
When you meet us now and you look into our eyes, you will see the
saddest story ever told. Our hearts are broken into a thousand pieces.
But don't pity us. We're gonna make it. We're resilient. After all,
we've been rooting for the Saints for 35 years. That's got to count
for something.
OK, maybe something else you should know is that we make jokes at
inappropriate times.
But what the hell.
And one more thing: In our part of the country, we're used to having
visitors. It's our way of life.
So when all this is over and we move back home, we will repay to you
the hospitality and generosity of spirit you offer to us in this
season of our despair.
That is our promise. That is our faith.
Well said, brother. Well, said.
Read Free!
The BookWorm
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