In the Spirit of ... well.. spirits

Though I promised a follow-up to my previous post, I am deviating (no comments from the peanut gallery). Since the QOE feels an affinity for the Raven and Kate is partial to the Magpie (and wombat, although this is a bird post), I have one to add to the list. I feel connected to the Northern Mockingbird. I've blogged about this before but I heard one sing in Los Angeles both summers I was there. It's amazing to me that I can pick out the same bird by song and location. That can't really be done with any other species, unless the creature builds the same nest outside your door year after year. Even then, might be some other relative or nest builder.

But what gets me, is not necessarily the song -- though it's unique and lovely and singing on full moon nights for no good reason is pretty cool. What moves me is that in the middle of the medley, also for no good reason, the bird will leap up and flash its wings, revealing broad, white bands on its wings. Then it will land and keep singing.


I want to go birdwatching soon...

Goodness, I'm Beat!

It's been a very, very long week. What with the first day of teaching and meetings and ice and parties, and visitors. Most of it has been great (parties and visitors and a little teaching), but I'm kinda glad to be snowed in tonight so I can rest up.

Let me review Friday since that was the highlight. I woke early -- for me -- 8 am, so I could pick up an extra cake for Faye's retirement. We were concerned that the other cake (that feeds 120) would not be enough. I bought it from Motta's on Route 6. I love to buy from them because I want to keep them in business. I carefully brought it to the car on the ice-slicked parking lot. The container must have opened slightly because the entire car smelled of sugar as I drove down to New London.

Then I taught at 1050 which was my Lit class. It went well although I was in a classroom with a computer I couldn't log into. Whoops! So, while they were working on poetry madlibs, I dashed to my office, dashed to the copier, and fired off the poems with the correct words in them. Then we talked about poetry in class. I have a few familiar faces this semester which is nice. After that, I went with a colleague to pick up the mega-cake. Kate took pics which I hope she will post. I'll link to them when she does. After bringing it to the reception hall, I decided to stick around and help set up. This meant I missed lunch and the speech from a big speaker at 1:00 (hence my 1:00 class was cancelled). I begged some food off of a neighbor across the hall from me (who mocked me when I yelled if she had any food -- she's many months pregnant. Of course she has food). Then I taught my 2:25 class. I only kept them for an hour but I already assigned the first paper.

I met up with Kate and Gene at the auditorium (also ran into my friend, Susan, and her daughter, Leah). We rushed inside because it was freakin' cold.

I would take the time now to talk about the fantastic ceremony but I'm just too pooped to create anything that would come near to capturing the event. I'll save that for next time. And I promise I will!

(spoiler: I did finally get to eat).

I work in a weird place

A colleague is now going to be Vice President Elect's Homeland Security Adviser. That's so exciting for him! I'm sure he's moving onto bigger and better things rather than being in charge of the funds for the coffee. Okay, he does a lot more than that but that's my point of contact. That and he was part of the interviewing team for my position this year. Nice guy. I will expect no more nonsense from the executive branch.

The Ice Man

Has come and stayed for a bit, leaving me yet again homebound. I guess it's not so bad since I have a lot I need to do and some quiet is fine. I am missing some meetings at work which I regret. There's always something important -- although a bit that's not.

Anyway, I can't believe the first week of January is coming to a close, and I have to start teaching on Friday!

In other non-related teaching news, I'm taking a class at my synagogue on the Talmud. My medieval friends will find this particularly interesting. I never knew much about the Talmud which is a repository of commentaries on Jewish Law (everything from what is okay to eat to what should you do if you suddenly fart while praying). Right now what is most fascinating to me is the manuscript. I've put a page below. The middle column is the original law (the Mishna from Palestine, 3rd century CE) and then the original commentary (Gemara from 5th century CE from Babylonia). Then all the text around it is all the commentaries that have accrued over time. The text closest to the binding on the right is Rashi (from France, 11th century CE, which was also translated into Old French at one point). On the left, closest to the middle column are the Tosafists (thought to be students of Rashi -- France and Germany 12th to 13th centuries). Far left, cross references to other sections of the Talmud. Below that Comments of another reader (Tunis, 11th Century). The notes at the bottom are from Austria-Hungary (early 19th century) and so on and so forth.



Medievalists work with manuscripts all the time but to see a text accrue other texts like that is just something I haven't seen before. I can understand now why the Talmud is so important to Jews because it really does represent learning through the ages in one package. The image and other information about the Talmud is from here.

This Year is Off to a Rough Start

I completely blanked on a social engagement this evening. I was sitting down to dinner, and the phone rang. I was a bit put out because I was really hungry, having been out all day. I was surprised to hear from someone from work. They were all at the restaurant, waiting for me. D'oh! I feel like such an idiot.

So I had to run out of the house to drive more than twenty minutes to the place. I was very hungry by the time I got there. Fortunately, as it was that typical Connecticut Asian fusion place (we got Thai! We got Sushi! We got it all!), I ordered sushi. Though people had eaten appetizers, soup, etc., my main course got there before their main courses. It wasn't bad. The spicy yellowtail roll was actually spicy (also unusual).

I can't believe I messed up already. I need to staple my calendar to my body.

Need Creative Folk Help

So, in my previous post I said I decided to start an anime and manga blog. I was poised to do so when I was stymied by the name. Hmm. Any you creative folk out there think of something unique and fun?

My plan for the blog is kinda what Gene does for comics -- post news and reviews, etc. Since I come across a lot of anime and manga news I thought it would be a nice repository for myself and others.

To Resolve or not to resolve

I resolve the following in no particular order. Ladies and Gentlemen, please place your bets at the window for how long these will last.

I resolve to:

1. make this a year of change.
2. start an anime/manga blog.
3. try not to be such an awful procrastinator when grading papers this year.
4. accept more social invitations.
5. brush Boo more often.
6. buy health insurance (gah!)
7. write more letters. (If you are looking for a gift for me -- funky stationery is always appreciated).
8. volunteer somewhere.
9. eat more fruit.

I resolve not to:

1. be negative