June wrap-up...

30 June 2021: Someone appreciated me taking a shorter workday today. Been a busy June: teaching, advising, grant writing, search committee chairing, and good progress on a big writing project. "Miles to go" and all that, but whew!

Fun with spreadsheets?

29 June 2021: The best part of my day? Spending over an hour with Amy as she helped me get an Excel document into perfect shape so I could then share it with the provost search committee. (Believe me, it was complicated.) There is something about working on something like that with someone who also enjoys the challenge and pushing through the frustration. 

Nerdy? Absolutely. 

Fun and satisfying? Absolutely.

At the Meck with Carrie...

28 June 2021: Got to have a drink with Carrie at the Meck today, something that seemed so unlikely just a couple of months ago when she was in such a bad place with her long COVID. Her new medication is such a game-changer. It was hot as heck out there, but otherwise just lovely to sit outside and talk and (the theme of this summer, blessedly) feel normal. 

Early feedback...

27 June 2021: I sent the framework of the book proposal to the series editor this morning. I still have to complete some sample entries (planning on three) but he had offered to read this part when it was done. He responded with some feedback this afternoon (!). I was hanging out with Cory and Hannah when it arrived and I almost didn't check it in case it was...bad. 

But it wasn't. Here's my favorite line: "While it's possible I might do some light editing when the final arrives - and I'm not even sure that will be necessary - this proposal will certainly pass muster at [insert publisher name]!" My goodness, that's nice to read. 

He says his only real concern right now is that I should up the word count to 140-160K to cover what I say I am going to do. Gulp! 

Glass and blues...

26 June 2021: Week 3 of stained glass class went well. This week was all about foiling, so it was pretty chill. 

Despite that serious look on my face, it really was chill. 

Then later in the evening, we took in another great concert at Dow and Annette's. Pretty solid summer Saturday.

6 years, 11 months...

25 June 2021: "For the longest time, I could not look at these photos. Now I open the file often. I take in the view through my brother’s eyes and remember that time when he was still very much alive." --the wonderful Connie Shultz, remembering her brother in this column. Brought some tears to my eyes as we approach seven years since Ryan died.  

Proposal progress

24 June 2021: Carrie was kind enough to read the first part of my book proposal and she gave me such smart and useful feedback. I feel like it's almost ready to send (the first half) to the editor. Feels good!

Summer 2021 Grading: DONE!

Second post of the day, but I just hit "submit" on my final summer grades. Feels good, though a bit muted since the class was small, we never met in person, and I'm swimming in so much other work. Still, a bit of chair dancing is called for...

"The Galloping Thing"

23 June 2021: I am not sure how Chen Chen keeps writing these poems that knock me out, but I'll happily live in the world where he does that. 

Today I found myself kind of wowed by the progress I made on a writing project--how that gallop just started. As the poet notes, that feeling is like playing and it like praying. 

Juggling act...

22 June 2021: Another long day on campus where I did the following: worked on the last bits of grading for my summer class, worked on a sample entry for the book proposal, attended and presented at a virtual conference, met briefly with a Carrie to talk out some ideas about the proposal, and worked on this grant a colleague and I are writing to replace water fountains on campus (which will not be getting turned back on) with water bottle filling stations. 

That's a lot of juggling, but I think I managed it all kind of well? And even made progress in places. I'm home now, prepping for the last day of the conference (watching pre-taped presentations) and finishing up some more grading, but the vibes are pretty good. 

Crumpled schedules...

21 June 2021: I am very much feeling the "so much to do" stress this week. Today, I had no appointments scheduled and planned a full day on campus, getting work done on three fronts: grading, the book proposal, and prepping for a conference presentation tomorrow. I got there before 8:00 and was cooking through a schedule I had made for myself when a colleague in another department sent an email asking if we could talk. I thought about saying "no," but felt the tug of my responsibility as Faculty Senate President, so I said yes and he came by.

Cut to 90 minutes later, when he left and I crumpled up my schedule, now completely useless, sighed a bit, and traced out a new one. 

The thing is, this isn't a complaint post (not really). I am glad I could talk to him and hear what he had to say. I am glad I could help address some of his concerns and reassure him that I shared some of them. But really, I am glad for any chance to have a good conversation with someone from a very different discipline--especially someone I don't know very well--and be reminded once again how dedicated most faculty are to the work we do and to our students. That sounds like bull, I know, or trite nonsense, but it really is true. 

Regal Points and Father's Day

20 June 2021: In addition to the physical gifts I sent him, I was delighted to share a story of determined frugality and triumph with my dad for Father's Day. It involved how I emailed Regal Cinemas' customer service (more than once) to get credit for a bunch of points they hadn't given me--and it worked. He was proud and shared with me his own little financial victories. 

Chip/block. Apple/tree. And proud of it. 

Stained Glass Class: Week Two

19 June 2021: Holy cow, did stained glass class go better this week! Turns out I really did have a flawed cutter. This week, the cuts worked, the glass broke in the right places, and it was even fun. Shew!

Big Cork

18 June 2021: Got to hang out with some great folks at Big Cork.

Catching up...

17 June 2021: At a little year-delayed wedding celebration for our friends Jordan and Eryn, I got to catch up with a bunch of people (in person!) who I haven't seen in the flesh in a long time. Lovely, lovely, lovely. Another chance to marvel at the wonderful people I keep meeting throughout my life. 

Two and a half months later...

16 June 2021: Visited for a bit today with Alan, Scott's partner. He's such an amazing guy--I told him he needs to write a (non-fiction) book. (He's already written fiction.) We talked about Scott, of course, and about grief, blessings in the midst of grief, and ways of going on after great loss and pain. About how there is no one answer and nothing is straightforward. I don't think I said anything profound or particularly helpful, but it felt good for me to see him and talk with him. I hope it helped him a bit, too, even if only to be reminded of yet another person who care about him. 

Perfect vibes

15 June 2021: After a long, busy, and productive day, it's been a kind of perfect evening. Picked up Amy so we could go to Target to get wedding gifts for a friend, then had dinner at a Thai place we both really like but hadn't been to since before COVID. Lovely evening for a drive, too. Got back home and it's just a beautiful--windows open, perfect temperature, checking more items off my to-do list (in a good way) as (somewhat randomly?) I am watching The Little Mermaid on TV. 

More of these vibes, please. 

"like a hand gently cracking a new book’s cover, ready to understand"

14 June 2021: This is a really lovely and aching poem: "September 23, 2016," by Rachel Mennies. 

An excerpt:

"In college, I got ready for a party with two women I loved who loved each other.

I watched Diana flip Jean’s hair from her freckled shoulders before zipping her into her dress:
the same gesture I’d made in the mirror, alone, before I arrived at their apartment.

I watched them pass Jean’s mascara wand fluently between them, one’s licked fingers curling the other’s lashes, and a question split me at my spine—

like a hand gently cracking a new book’s cover, ready to understand."

Sunday...

13 June 2021: A quiet Sunday here. Cloudy, too, after some serious storms moved through. (We miss you, sunshine!) Got some lovely (but not surprising) news about some of my best friends yesterday, which is filling me with enough light and happiness to keep some not great Big Thoughts at bay.  

Glass cutting

12 June 2021: Hard to think of a time when I felt more out of my league than today at the first of three weekly introductory stained glass making classes I am taking with Amy. If I had been all alone, I would have quit (entirely over my inability to use glass cutters well). The teacher was so patient and kind, but afterwards, I needed (and had) a drink. Just thinking about next week is making me tense. Ha. I did like the sanding part. And maybe I'll be better at soldering? Whew.  

Bathing what now?

11 June 2021: It’s a good thing I wasn’t the one behind the wheel after seeing In the Heights, as I might have driven off the road at this exchange:

Me: I’ve always liked Jimmy Smits...

Amy: I *did* tell you I met him once while bathing ferrets, right?

"Why Georgia"

10 June 2021: Feeling a bit gloomy this evening. (It's rainy, but I won't blame the rain for my mood; in fact, it's cooling things down a bit, so that's a plus.) 

The day started out okay, with a good phone meeting with our wonderful HR director to talk about the provost search. Then I mowed the lawn, took a shower, and headed to campus. From there, it's a blur of frustrating and/or overwhelming meetings and just a general case of the blahs. 

This song, which has been in and out of my head the past couple of days, seems like an appropriate soundtrack for the evening.

Room reservations

9 June 2021: Look, this isn't the most thrilling thing I've ever done, but this evening I sent in a request to reserve a room for in person Faculty Senate meetings next year. And it felt pretty good.

Six years of BabyCat

8 June 2021: Happy 6th birthday to Veronica/BabyCat, whose perpetually judgemental stare (even when she poses like this) keeps me humble.

Back to Panera

7 June 2021: Worked for a bit over an hour today in one of my favorite pre-pandemic work-spaces: Panera. Hadn't been there in forever and it felt a bit weird, but also the good kind of familiar. I didn't stay as long as I used to, but I will be back soon. 

Strawberries and Cicadas

6 June 2021: Some images that really show it's summer...

Picking strawberries at Orr's. Hot, but bearable. And so many berries!

And some cicada content, all from the red maple in my front yard...

Feel Good

5 June 2021: Feel Good, whose second season dropped yesterday, is such a little miracle a show, something that couldn't exist before this age of TV. It's so remarkably specific and precise you marvel at its existence and especially the fact that a second season exists. 

I re-watched Season One today (only 6 episodes, each less than 20 minutes, so it flies by). I found myself so moved by it again--and moved in so many ways. Mae's mess of a life, with moments of love and beauty punctuated by such pain and insecurity--I almost want to watch it through my fingers like a horror movie at times. And there's a mirror there, too, that makes me feel seen, thrilled, and sad all at once. It's not perfect but what it does that works? It works so very well, at least for me. And those last two words in the previous sentence? The fact that they fit this show? See above about it being a little miracle.

Now working my way through Season Two...

"Fade Into You"

4 June 2021: Friday night vibes...Big Thoughts, etc. 

#hotbugsummer

3 June 2021: My version of #hotgirlsummer? Being downright irresistible to cicadas, attracted by not only the hum of the mower and trimmer, but also almost certainly by my amazing lawn-care dance moves. Hard to blame them. Swiping them away gently yet firmly, like bizarro version of Tinder (or so I’ve been told). They don’t bite or anything, so it’s no big deal. I ain’t a hater. Brood X: it’s not you, it’s me. But somewhere out there—like, literally right over there, on my other shoulder—you might find your Mr./Mrs. Right. Good luck.

Proposal vs. book

2 June 2021: I keep having to remind myself that this book proposal (due at the end of July) is just the proposal. When I forget, I feel overwhelmed. 

The proposal? That I can get done by the end of July. Made some decent progress today, though most of it was in my head (in a good way--working out ideas up there).

Deep breaths. Keep going. 

Untitled document _41_

1 June 2021: I have a student in my summer session who I also taught last semester. Every single paper she submits is named “Untitled document” with a number after it, a number steadily increasing since January. Today was “Untitled document _41_.” And yes, the previous entry was “Untitled document _40_.” 

Makes my Type-A-self twitch a bit, but I guess it works for her?