2/27: hearing
...the students' ideas for hypothetical paintings they would commission based on Homer's Odyssey. It was a new-to-me assignment, and I think it worked well.
2/26: on the way to work
A large flock of pelicans on the lake. A blooming Japanese quince. The new buds on tree gleaming in the morning light.
2/25: getting through
...the night without waking up coughing, and through the day with some coughing but less than yesterday. Maybe I'm on the mend.
2/24: stepping outside
...this morning and immediately smelling the daffodils. Then I went over to the winter honeysuckle to enjoy its scent too.
2/23: putting together
...the test for tomorrow's Etymology class. I worked on the harder (i.e., thought-requiring) part of the test in the afternoon, during a spell of mental/physical clarity. I'm glad I made the most of that window of opportunity. As the evening has worn on, I've started to feel worse again, but the remaining parts of the test I had to put together were more mechanical, which was a boon.
2/22: letting go
...of my to-do list for the weekend and trying to get well instead. Although this might not seem like a good thing, I think it was good that I was able to tell myself, "Don't try to work when you're feeling so sick, and don't feel bad about that."
2/21: writing about
...each page in Victoria Turnbull's Pandora, a picturebook. Making myself describe each page made me slow down, see, and think. A good way to end the work-week.
2/20: finishing
...the grading of the Etymology students' corpus assignments. Instead of trying to power through all of them in a sitting or two, I've done five a day for four days, and that's given me a chance to enjoy thinking about the words and what the students want to show about them: melancholy, diligent, nonchalance, barrage, tank, evanescent, garden, realm, cop, compute, villain, wizard, nice, arcane, hell, fantastic, tattoo, aesthetic, facetious, and bode.
2/19: a good conversation
...on the way to the parking lot (and then in the parking lot) with a younger colleague. We talked about the importance of identifying core commitments in our courses and programs and trusting that (certain kinds of) less can be more.
2/17: well enough
When I woke up this morning, I thought "Oh no, I'm still too sick; I'm going to have to cancel my afternoon meetings." But after coffee and pancakes I felt better, and I worked at home quietly in the morning then was able to head to campus after lunch for my appointments. I saw just four students, and each meeting was really pleasant.
2/16: so glad
...that the college cancelled tomorrow's classes for a midwinter break. My health has gotten poor over the past 36 hours, and I'm grateful for the extra bit of recovery time.
2/15: rereading
...some novels for my May conference paper. I'm a little worried about having to get a paper ready to go right after the semester ends, but at least the reading/rereading for it is fun.
2/13: saying no
...to having my computer at school taken away tomorrow as planned. It turns out that I can't be without my computer tomorrow, given the work I have to do, and the prospect of being without it was stressing me out. And then I realized that I should just say, "I can't do this after all." So I did.
2/12: in the morning
...Simon the Cat sat on the arm of my chair while I was drinking my coffee. What a difference from when he first showed up on our doorstep, needing food but afraid to get too close.
2/11: choosing a phrase
...from the Odyssey for people to use in a group cento exercise: "waiting for dusk to come." I'm curious to see what words they'll pick to finish the sentence.
2/10: during the last hour
...at work today I got more emails written than I thought I could manage. I'm still behind, but less so than it seemed like I'd be earlier in the day. That's enough for me to claim a small victory.
2/9: in better sorts
I was somewhat out of sorts yesterday, but today has been better. I think addressing some pamphlets to send out in the world helped, made me feel like me. Made me remember that there's a me who extends beyond the 10 miles that connect my house and my job.
2/8: remembering
...Chris' Uncle Frank, who passed away yesterday. There was one summer night when he, Chris, and I sat on the deck on Chris' parents house in New Jersey and talked for hours while watching a spider weave a web. He could make anything into a story just by his telling.
2/7: manifesto, Manifesta
While I was eating breakfast I wrote out some thoughts about literary studies and travel that had been on my mind since yesterday. It ended up reading a bit like a manifesto, and that made me think that my superhero name could be Manifesta.
2/6: a student likening
...a 19th century painting of Odysseus' first encounter with Nausicaa to Tarzan meeting Jane.
2/5: first thing, last thing
One of the first things I did this morning was read some of Abigail by Magda Szabo (even though I probably shouldn't have taken the time to do so). One of the last things I'm going to do this evening is finish it (even if it means staying up a little later than I should).
2/3: office hours
I had a shaky start to the day: a misunderstanding at home, some awkward-for-me-to-manage moments in one class, and then--in another class--a technological glitch that derailed my carefully planned lesson. But then two students came to office hours, and it was grounded and real to talk with each of them.
2/2: in the morning
...I took a quick spin around the cove in my kayak. I love the white-trunked trees and their reflections on the water.
2/1: in honor of
...the upcoming Iowa caucuses I made a vegetarian version of loose meat sandwiches for dinner this evening. I doubled the spices and the taste was still fairly mild in a way that might take some getting used to. After hearing about this regional sandwich years ago, I'm glad I finally gave it a try.