Christmas spirit?

Being that I live in the fair state of Texas it looks and (at times) feels nothing like Christmas. Well, unless you make the mistake of going into a mall.

So I'm trying to get myself into the holiday spirit by watching some of my favorite Christmas movies.

So far on my list to re-watch this year:
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Scrooged
A Christmas Carol(with Captain Picard Patrick Stewart)
A Christmas Carol (Ultimate Collector's Edition)(B/W & Color)(with Alister Simms. I grew up watching this one.)
The Original Television Christmas Classics (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer / Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town / Frosty the Snowman / Frosty Returns / The Little Drummer Boy)
and the not really Christmas movie but I count it anyways: Holiday Inn (Special Edition)

Anyone have any favorite holiday movies they want to recommend? Or ways to get into the spirit of the season?

Priceless and family side notes

Fall flowers from FTD: $30 dollars.

Making your grandmother's day: Priceless.


On a side note: My grandfather wanted to know when he'd get great-grand daughter, and that the furry four legged one didn't count. I told him to talk to my older cousin.

I have a date

I have a date on Friday.

I know, I'm rather shocked myself. Which I shouldn't be, considering I asked him.

Where will this date be taking place you might ask? The Opera. Lady Macbeth to be exact.

I'm going to be over hear panicking quietly, because I don't have the time or energy to date. I have so much going on with school between school-work and being President of the Medieval Club.

I still don't know why I asked him and not one of my girlfriends, I'm normally not this brave.

And I promise the next post will be about something Medieval. Promise.

Shakespeare Meme

She's beautiful and therefore to be wooed;
She is a History Geek, therefore to be won.

Which work of Shakespeare was the original quote from?

Get your own quotes:

Poetry Friday: Whatifs

Whatif by Shel Silverstein

Last night, while I lay thinking here,
some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
and pranced and partied all night long
and sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif I'm dumb in school?
Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?
Whatif I get beat up?
Whatif there's poison in my cup?
Whatif I start to cry?
Whatif I get sick and die?
Whatif I flunk that test?
Whatif green hair grows on my chest?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?
Whatif I don't grow talle?
Whatif my head starts getting smaller?
Whatif the fish won't bite?
Whatif the wind tears up my kite?
Whatif they start a war?
Whatif my parents get divorced?
Whatif the bus is late?
Whatif my teeth don't grow in straight?
Whatif I tear my pants?
Whatif I never learn to dance?
Everything seems well, and then
the nighttime Whatifs strike again!

New Harry Potter book?

Maybe, but if so it will be a prequel book featuring Harry's father James (or perhaps a sequel featuring Harry's son, also named James Potter).

James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing

WB say they know about it but won't say if it is their site. It is though very sleek and reminds me of JKR's website.

ETA: Is it a hoax, a fan-novel, or something else? Whatever it is it isn't a eight book.

Comic

You laugh, but somewhere there is a student thinking just that.

New Blogger

I'd like to welcome my friend Mardahin to the world of blogging.

Notes

In the future when having brilliant ideas about reforming social/academic clubs remember that this brings one in contact with bureaucracy.

This would be so much easier if I didn't live an hour (hour and half with traffic) away from my campus.

On a minor note we had a wonderful pre-class discussion/debate about why book burning is immoral. Which it is in my opinion and in (thankfully) most of my fellow classmates opinions. A quote I've heard before and I think needs repeating(and I paraphrase) "A society that burns books will soon burn people." As my professor pointed out by burning a book you are not just expressing your own opinion but violently suppressing ideas. Even if you do not burn all copies of a book you have still suppressed the idea.

Everyone loves gifts

Meme type thing taken from Quod She.

By the end of the calendar year, I will send a tangible, physical gift to each of the first five people to comment here. The catch? Each person must make the same offer on her/his blog.

If I don't already know you in real life, please shoot me a email with your address.

Prerequisites

Prerequisite. Those lovely things that you're supposed to take before you enroll in certain other classes. Prerequisites can often be annoying for students and seem to make little sense at times. They are there so us so that we , the students, don't take classes we're either a) not ready for yet or b) need to first gain the basic subject knowledge so that we can build upon it.

For example, you wouldn't expect a freshmen straight out of high school to be able to bypass English Comp and the world/British lit classes and go straight for Chaucer.

But most of you reading this know all of this, right? So why am I even bringing it up?

The last few semesters I've seen a smattering of freshmen in 3000 level classes, which I understand. Sometimes, freshmen are ready, or at least think they're ready. Plus, with AP tests and college credit while still in high school being popular in some areas, it makes sense that some incoming freshmen couldn be ready for 3000 level courses.

The problems start when you have freshmen in 4000 level seminar classes. No I take that back, that is just the most obvious problem. The problem is when you have people in 4000 level classes that have either forgotten everything from English comp or have never taken it. No, that isn't the full problem either.

The problem is when you have students in any advanced class that have not had the basics required to underst said advanced level class. Take an advanced American History course, in say the civil war, the students should have a basic understanding of the Civil War from their required American History classes, and so on and so forth.

I'd like to think, at my school at least, that these are computer errors with the on-line registration program (side note: Never mind that online registration programs are supposed to automatically assess a student's transcripts and have blocks in-place to prevent this kind of jumping). That freshmen really aren't being allowed (into seminar classes) by their advisors.

I'd really like to think that.

Poetry Friday: Sonnet 76

Diana Rigg reading Sonnet 76 from When Love Speaks

Sonnet 76
Why is my verse so barren of new pride,
So far from variation or quick change?
Why with the time do I not glance aside
To new-found methods and to compounds strange?
Why write I still all one, ever the same,
And keep invention in a noted weed,
That every word doth almost tell my name,
Showing their birth and where they did proceed?
O, know, sweet love, I always write of you,
And you and love are still my argument;
So all my best is dressing old words new,
Spending again what is already spent:
For as the sun is daily new and old,
So is my love still telling what is told.

Because a good medieval tradition shouldn't die...

Per Omnia Saecula as something called Weird Medieval Animal Monday (or WMAM), where she features...well weird medieval animals.

Now in today's modern world we certainly couldn't have anything similar to those weird oddity of Medieval bestiaries could we?

Monkey Bees.

No really. Monkey Bees.

Yes, I'm talking about the weird, stupid, and what-were-they-on animals of D&D.

Join Jared as he takes his readers through 30 YEARS OF VERY STUPID MONSTERS.

Check out the end of the article for a shout out to Pliny the Elder and the Bonnacon.

RIP Drier

My drier has officially died. It will spin no more, no matter what I do. Heat its got aplenty but it will not spin. Not to mention all the clothing that was in the drier at the time smell like a burnt up motor.

The worst part is that being its a stackable ventless dyer. Replacing it is going to be a pain and expensive. I've talked to my mum who is going to help me out a bit with the cost, not to mention letting me to laundry out her place for a while.

I, at least, have enough jeans to get through this week. So there's that.

Back to my paper.

The Naval Academy is Military?!

Yes, Idris, the Naval Academy is military.

What did you think they were going to teach him? How do to flower arrangements? Did you think he joined for the water-skiing and for the travel?

And maybe you shouldn't tell people that your best reasons for going to a college is becuase its pretty and people think your smart for going there

Weekend to Do List

1. Grocery shopping for I'm out of everything. Including wine.
2. Go the mall and pick up shirts to wear under some of longer sleeved shirts.
3. Clean: take out trash, vacuum, swifter floors
4. Do laundry which involved putting laundry away
5. Work on paper
6. Work on Latin
7. Make a dinner, as in actually making it not taking it from the freezer and putting it in the microwave.
8. Bathe cats.

Campus Frustrations

I'm frustrated as hell with my University at the moment. We have some great medievalists in the English department and we have a Medieval Studies MA in the English department(or so it seems but good luck finding clear info on it). We don't have a Medieval Studies program for undergrads. We don't have any clear support system for Medievalist in training or those even interested in it. I only know about our Society for Renaissance and Medieval studies because I was searching to make sure there wasn't already a Medieval club before I started getting paper work together.

You don't know who to talk to either for advice, and until this year the History department was devoid of Medievalists. So who do you talk to? The Chaucerian? The Anglo-Saxonist? The random Medievalist grad student that assures you there are lots of Medievalists floating about and tells you about all these great graduate classes?

How many undergrads are losing out because they don't know where to look or how to talk to? If I hadn't taken any upper level English classes I wouldn't know half of what I do about those to talk to on campus. Shouldn't out advisers be pointing students in the direction of faculty to talk to and actually advising us based on our goals? Shouldn't the enrollment system keep Freshmen out of upper level seminar classes? (Whoops different rant).

I'm still going to try and put together the Medieval Club, since the SRMS isn't a 'student' organization (and seems to be many grad students but they don't even make it clear what the requirements to join are). I want other students interested in becoming Medievalists to have the feeling of not being alone, whether they come from the History or English side of it. I want to get my fellow students interested in the subject. It's going to be a hell of alot of work, and I'm insane for doing it with everything else I have on my plate (including being in the Classics Club).

Tonight I plan nothing more ambitious than buying a bottle of wine and ordering in Indian. And if I do anything more than write my paper and watching Dresden Files this weekend, I'll be shocked.

Do to list

Things I need to do today:
1. Put laundry away.
2. Take books to Half Price books.
3. Pay bills
4. Go to the store for more Vitamin water and milk.
5. Work on Latin Homework/Study for Latin Quiz

Oh what a interesting life I lead.

Delurking day!

Come delurk! Even if it is just to say hi.

Dear fellow Latin students,

Dear "know it all",
Please stop trying to impress the Professor with how smart you are. Not only is it annoying to your fellow students, but it also makes the fact that you haven't learned a single thing all year painfully obvious.

Sunt was on our last test. You should know what that means but now and that its not 3rd person future. You consistently ask questions that the Professor has just finished answering, or re-state what he just said as if it was a grand Revelation.

No love,
Me

Dear "its a imposition that I'm here so make it easier on me",

I'm frankly sick of your tone of voice when the Professor asks you a question or, heaven forbid, asks you to translate a sentence from our homework. Stop acting like he's picking on you or asking such a horrible thing. You oblivious don't care about learning Latin from the way you act and I'm really sick of hearing your snide comments under your breath.

By the way? Just because your older than the Professor doesn't mean you get to ask in a put out voice when he's going to put the lecture online. Really, you sound like a spoiled teenager.

Also no love,
Me

Randomly: I'm in the library at school and a seirn is going off outside. Most people aren't even looking up.

Alan Rickman reading Sonnet 130

From Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Books -- Alan Rickman reads Sonnet 130.

Monday Update

(Real original title they, huh?)

I did what many of you suggested and acted like nothing had happened in class. Only the kick-ass British lady and girl that sits next to me, mentioned anything, but mostly to say they were glad I was okay and feeling better etc, and no to worry about it. The young man who (according to the Prof and girl that sits next to me) made a comment and seemed to find it all the funnest wasn't even in class today.

So things went well in that class even if we are behind a bit. I really hope we have time to do justice to the Hospitlars and Templars, and still get everything done that we need to. I can't wait to start on the second Crusade, even though I know we won't spent as much time on Eleanor of Aquitaine as I would like.

Latin let out early today, much to my disappointment. I never thought I'd love a language or enjoy translating this much. I'm currently reading Cat in the Hat in Latin and hopefully will be able to tackle the Harry Potter books at some point in the near future.

Sadly the medieval Latin course that my Prof was pushing for will not happen in Spring even though he had ten of us interested. I hope to that the school will A) keep him, B) let him teach Medieval Latin next fall.

Maybe Old English will be taught in spring this year, though. That would be lovely.

"Do I really need these leeches Pete asks?"

And mothers will only lose half their children instead of most.

(One) Of the Worst Classroom Exprences of My Life

Ever have that dream where everything seems to be going wrong? Where by the end people are laughing at you and you run crying from the room?

I had one of those today, only I didn't wake up to find it was only a dream, because it wasn't a dream.

We received back our first papers in my Crusades course today. I'm always nervous over the first paper back from any Professor, and I'm sure many others are as well. Well, let me back up. We had they 'why everyone did poorly' talk for a half-hour then at the end of class actually got our papers.

Though saying that isn't very fair to our Professor, who really was trying to help us and I knew that. I knew that. I knew that I probably did fine, first papers are always the lowest grade. The Professor only wanted us to understand why, when we received our papers, we had the grades we did. I knew the reason we didn't get them back until the end was so we would pay attention and not be looking at our papers.

Knowing all this didn't keep my nerves to act up more than a Victorian woman with a tendency to faint. My hands were shaking, my entire body felt ready to burst, and I wanted to just beg for my paper back. At one point I fled the room for a few minutes just to try to get myself back together. Finally almost at the end I asked if I could just please have my paper back because I was freaking out, and people started laughing. It might have been only one or two, and from what my Professor told me in email the guy thought I was being funny, but it felt like the whole room was laughing at me. I freaked out more, said something and ran from the room so fast the door slammed into the wall. Luckily I very nice (and kick ass) English woman from one of my other classes was out in a alcove studying, she calmed me down and got me to look at my grade (b+), and generally saved me from going into the bathroom to cry.

I'm horrible embarrassed by my behavior, and I've already apologized to the Professor (who is wonderful and email me first to make sure I was okay) in email for my behavior which was immature and distributive. I will go to class Monday. My question is do I apologize to my classmates for being distributive? And do I have any business thinking I can be a Professor one day when I can handle something like this?

via Micheivous Muse

My Liberal Identity:

You are a Social Justice Crusader, also known as a rights activist. You believe in equality, fairness, and preventing neo-Confederate conservative troglodytes from rolling back fifty years of civil rights gains.

Take the quiz at www.FightConservatives.com

I miss my English Classes

I just realized what's been bugging me about this semester. I don't have a single English Class. No Chaucer, no Shakespeare, nadda. No wonder I'm reading everything I can get my hands on and doing Latin exercises like it is going out of style.

This also comes to the heart of my ongoing History or English grad school debate. Which way do I go? I love them both when it comes to the Middle Ages (and I adored my Shakespeare class but I think that's my love of theatre in part).

I need to sit down write up a long post about this if only to try and work some more things through in my head. I also need to sit down with our fab new Medievalist and ask her some advise, not to mention talk to the Medievalists in the English deparment as well.

I find...

I don't have much to say on academic life at the moment. Though I'm sure I'll find something to talk about.

My brain is still in summer mode. It's almost Oct and my brain refuses to believe that summer is over.

I do know at least that I will be bringing my Wii to Kalamazoo this year, and just thinking about how in the world I'm going to travel will all this tech is already worrying me slightly. But I'll cross that bridge when I get there/

I also know that I'm adoring Latin, it's my favorite class right now. Which makes me feel slightly guilty due to the fact the Crusading class should be my favorite. I think it must be the translating. Something about translating gives me a little thrill.

And as one can see....

by my zazzle store, I went to comic con this year.

Yes I promise a full summer report. :D

Already September?

It can't be four three weeks into the school year already. I'm still recovering from summer. Still so much I still need to do!

Ack proposal needs writing.

Comic Sunday (Not dead!)

Comic....Thursday

Staying in Ireland

That's right I'm not coming back.

Okay, not really. I wish I could though. This trip as cemented for me that I need to get into a school in Ireland (Trinity or Cork) or in the UK.

I'll do a bigger summary when I get back and aren't paying a euro per 10 minutes, but I adore Dublin and Cork. (Westport was grand as well.) Belfast was... depressing. Not even Derry was that depressing. All the walls in the city and the emptiness of the streets after a certain time.

Everyone else went pubbing tonight (we're back in Belfast) but I was abounded since I needed to check my flight status and drop off some stuff at the hotel. Oh well. I'll have some bailey's in the lobby and read one of my new Doctor Who books.

Next time I right it will be stateside. Till then!

I can't feel my feet

I'm sitting in a Internet cafe soaked to the bone, but I'm having a blast out here. Went over to Hoawth last night on the train with some people and saw some wonderful ruins. Had ice cream then dinner at a place called the Bloody Stream.

We took a bus out to Newgrange today then out of a circle tower. It rain there too. Will definitely post pictures when I'm someplace that will up load them.

But really I can't feel my feet. I can't believe that when I changed out of my boots it started pouring again. Damnit. I hope my shoes aren't ruined.

Dublin day two

Second day in Dublin. My legs and feet will never be the same, but I'm having a blast. I've been to the Guinness Brewery of course, did that the first day out (hey free beer!). Trinity College and the Book of Kells started off today, along with a trip to Dublin Castle.

The Book of Kells was even more amazing up close. The exhibit and the long room were worth the trip to Dublin itself. Dublin castle was fun too, especially seeing the Norman and Viking ruins under the 'Castle'. Sad to say the Medieval stuff interest me more than anything else.

Had a rather good lunch at some restaurant above a pub (can't remember the name, the Quay I think). We had some good wings. Yesterday we had fish and chips. Very good but not enough vinger for my tastes. Next time I'll just get a bottle.

We've had the cutest travel guides for both Trinity College and Dublin Castle. Hope that luck holds!

Where is the Geek going in Ireland?

Ireland

Only a few more days before I leave for Ireland!

So much still to do and pack, and I swear there are not enough hours in the day.

KaZoo Post

So I've manage to have a connection however weak in my room.

Though it isn't all that late (translation: come kidnap me I want a beer) I'm in my room.

I've had a great conference so far, though I have to say the three I saw today were much better than the session I attended yesterday. The gaming workshop aside, which was a ton of fun.

Sorry to miss a lot of you at the weblog session but the MEMO session called me away.

I promise a much more put together (with missing details because hello I'm already very obvious who I am but I do have some sense) KaZoo report later.

Oh...anyone leaving monday?

“The Pseudo Society”

Anybody going that would like to sit together sat evening? I'm going to try to get there early to stake out some seats.

KaZoo Time again

So my flight is early AM and I'll get in to Kalamazoo sometime around noon. I plan to sleep on the plane.

A lot.

No, really. If you see me don't wake me up, I might have to hurt you.

I'm still running off finals adrenaline which I'm sure will crash sometime tomorrow.

I learned from last year and not only am I bringing more jeans, but sensible shoes, and a sleep sack. I'll have my suit this year but when to wear it I have no clue.

And I went to Hawaii to start a cult...

...and now I'm typing what my friend is reading out of her pysch text book. I think it's time to either lay off the caffeine or have more.

Shoot me now

Please.

2,576 / 4,000 (64.4%)

*Squints into the distance*

1,377 / 4,000 (34.4%)

I also have a exam tomorrow AND work!

Huh

I'm a generally unfuckwitted, liberal, not-too-generous, not-too-selfish, pathetically simple-minded, dribbling child!
What are you?
Brought to you by Rum and Monkey

Woot!

One paper down, two more to go. Technically, one more to go, since the second just needs some work done to it.

So the new word count is:

0 / 4,000 (0.0%)

To those wondering, my new job is pretty much a receptionist job, though I'm also a errand girl. Still I'm paid two dollars more than my last job and I have less responsibility and stress.

1,830 / 2,500 (73.2%)

Paper status

1,065 / 2,500 (42.6%)

Grow word count! Grow, I command thee!

Oh, yeah, did I mention I have a new job?

Wicked

Wicked was wicked good.

More tomorrow.

Comic Sunday

No, I haven't actually seen the newest Doctor Who episode. Or the Shakespeare Code episode yet either. I know. I'm a bad bad geek.

What the hell is wrong with people?

Bomb found at the Austin Women's Health center.

What the hell is wrong with people? How does killing people make you pro-life? Really, I'd like to know?

Growing up I was always told how lucky I was to be a woman in the 20th-21st century. All the gains our mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers won for us, and its all slipping away like so many grains of sand.

Love/Hate

What I love:

Having a Professor extend the paper due date almost a week.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you....

What I hate:

People that don't understand what "no ad hominem attack" means when giving an oral critique.

Bite me, I was so freaking sweet and up-beat on yours.

What I love:

The random profesor standing behind me at Starbucks that brought my cup of hot tea for me when I realized my wallet was at home and all I hate was 70 cents.

The tea was only 1.10 but it was such a nice thing to do.

What I hate:

People who say things like "I'm so freaked out by all these Asian guys on campus. One of them could kill us!" Especially when its said by a blond still wearing pajamas.

What I Hate:

My check engine light.

What I love:

My cats being cuddly when mama comes home drenched, nurses a cold, and tired.

End of semester looming

I so do not have the time to be sick right now, but my body seems to have other ideas. Two weeks of classes before finals (only two this semster). In the mean time I have a eight page paper, a 4000 word paper, and a 2400 word paper . Due the 1st, 3rd, and the 4th respectively.

And tickets to see Wicked on Sunday.

Yuck.

Also just for kicks:
Mingle2.com - Free Online Dating80% Geekhttp://mingle2.com/">Mingle2.com

Sunday Comic

Hey it is technically Sunday now.

Digital Ownership (or I don’t think I gave you permission)

The rough of my 'big' research paper was due yesterday and as I had the opinion of emailing it to the professor, I did just that. Now before I go on, I need to explain that part of the class grade is also given for critiquing one of our classmates papers. Still that knowledge did not prepare me to receive a classmate's paper as an email attachment

Only it wasn't just a email attachment. The professor had forwarded my classmates email to him to me. So now not only do I have a digital copy of her paper, a word document no less, my classmates email address, but I also know the exact time she emailed the professor along with the text of her email to him.

Momentarily I was distracted by the paper itself (the phrase 'It has long been know,' made a appearance, and spell-check doesn't appear to exist on her computer) and the fact I had roughly 24hrs to write a critique and prepare an oral. Therefore, it wasn't until I was going to bed that it hit me, that if I now possessed a word document of someone's paper, along with their email then someone out there had my paper and email.

It unnerved me more than a little bit.

I hate to even think that one of my classmates would sell a classmates paper or plagiarize it, but it is unfortunately something that goes on. I'm not only worried about my paper but my classmates.

Part of me is sure I'm over reacting, but another part of me wants to bring this up to the Professor.

As far as I'm concerned I had ownership digital or otherwise to that paper –rough draft or not. I emailed the paper to my Professor, I gave my permission for him to posses a digital copy of my paper, no one else.

Is this something I should bring up to the Professor or should I just keep my mouth shut? Would you want your student bringing something like this that unnerves them to your attention?

I'm really at a loss what to do.

I've got a ticket to ride

I have my ticket to Ireland and I found my passport with my really really old photo. (No you can't see it.)

End of semester crunch time means less time to blog, but don't worry I'm not dead.

RIP Kurt Vonnegut.

Happy Zombie Jesus Day (Easter)/Comic Sunday

May you have a wonderful day no matter what your faith.



For the medievalist reader check out Quod She's fansinating post about teaching the York "Crucifixion" play from the York Corpus Christi play cycle.

Yes it is still plagiarism

Dear fellow undergrads,

I'm very glad you have the Google-fu to find my posts on the Wife of Bath, Lanval, and others. Your ability to use a simple search engine cofounds us all.

Just one little thing?

If you copy one of my posts and turn it into your Professor there is a good chance they will be able to find the entry as easily as you did.

In other words: DON'T STEAL. If you want to cite my blog; go here.

No love,

History Geek

I had a professor today email me to let me know that one of his students had turned in my post on Hamlet as their response paper. I'm not sure whether I'm flattered or ticked off. I think I'll settle for a bit of both.

Ugh

Nothing like a speeding ticket to start the day off right.

At least all my financial aid is finally done.

Now to find a good price on a flight to Dublin.

Comic Sunday

Never Acceptable: The Hazing of Kathy Sierra

Through Acrene Wiseass, I came across the deeply distributing situation of Kathy Sierra. (Warning the threats and comments are graphic and disturbing)

I'm disgusted beyond belief that not only these sort of comments and threats are being made to this woman, but that their being made by adults (I make no claims of knowing who is responsible for the threats and comments, I will not convict people simply on public opinion and hearsay, but chances are all those involved are over the age of 18). These are not teenagers on livejournal or MySpace that haven't yet grasped the concept that there is a person at the other end of the computer. These are adults that not only should know better, but should be ashamed over even thinking their behavior was appropriate.

As far as I can tell these are not teenage boys with too much time on their hands, not that it would make the situation any better but the fact that these are adults with more than three brain cells to rub together make it all that more horrible. I'd bet good money that these people would never have the courage to say half that shit to her or any other woman's face, so why do they think it alright on the internet? Do people really lose the sense that it's a living breathing human with feelings on the other end?

The commenter's to Ms. Sierra telling her that she's too thin skinned are horrid as well. Thin skinned is wailing 'omg ur so mean' when someone disagrees with you or points out that your wrong due to verifiable facts. Anyone sane would be reacting like Ms. Sierra, especially someone that does not have the money to have armed body guards. While, having sadly seen (and been the target of on a smaller scale) hazing of this sort before, I do not think most of these people would have the courage to approach Ms. Sierra in person let alone actually harm her, there are always one or two crazy fuckers in any group of people like this to make her fear and safety measures more than reasonable.

The bottom line remains that behavior of this sort is never acceptable and those that know the people responsible for the threats need to step up and alert the police. Let the police deal with the matter and let them judge who is guilty.

 

So exhausted

I planned on actually medieval content for this entry, but my brain seems to be stuck on Act of Union 1840. In fact, there are a great many things and dates in my head that only pertain from 1609 until about 1929. My empire exam tomorrow might shed some light on these events.

And in my infinite insanity stupidly..my infinite something I will be taking part in my schools all day reading of the Odyssey. My part doesn't come until almost 9:30 at night but it'll be fun and there are t-shirts. Ah, yes, the siren song that has done in many a undergrad, 't-shirts'.

Couple these facts with a paper on Twelfth Night (and after watching the Nunn version, I do not blame Olivia one bit) due Thursday, and my brain is slowly shutting down. I'm going to jump start myself with sugar and tea before returning to trying to keep dates straight in my head.

In closing this site scares me and this site is hysterical (which I original typed as heretical.)

Comic Sunday

A taste of what is to come?

Over at Acephalous, Scott shares a complaint from his teaching days. A complaint from a young gentleman who claims "I write so very well". Anyone who teaches or plans to teach at any level should have a look and a (if rather pained and horrified) laugh.

Be warned even my worst writing does not reach the level of this young man's missive. Bring your goggles and a strong drink, you'll need them.

Since I've already lamented over sharing classes with people like him in the comments, I thought I'd bring up another side of things. How do you deal with a email/letter/etc. like this from a student? What is the protocol?

Honestly, I can see no benefit in answering the complaint other than inviting the student again in meet with 'me' to discuss the grade. Would the student see this has you starting to give in and pressure more for the grade they think they deserve? Do the girls pull out the water works?

The thing that still gets me is, why bring up problems with grades AFTER you've received your final grade. Bit late now, isn't it?

Say you have two students, A and B. Both have missed a good deal of classes. Both have struggled with assignments. Student B comes in during office hours to talk about their grades and actually listens to what you say. Student A never talks to you, not even through email. Student B grades improve, obviously trying their hardest. Student A keeps running their head into the same wall. Which student will most likely receive a better grade in the class?

If I was a betting woman, I'd say Student B. I'd rather have student B than A. Sadly Student A like the gentleman in Scott's post will never understand that it's too late after the fact.

They hand out faqs on all this when you start teaching right? (Along with a time machine when you finish your Ph.D.)

 

Hamlet as Dark Comedy

Before the break in my Shakespeare class the Professor asked us why Hamlet is a tragedy. There were many ranging answers. She who annoys Geek just by speaking made a good point or two about Ophelia and Gertrude though it all tied back into her Shakespeare anti-feminist subtext theory she goes on about. The classical definition of tragedy found its way into the mix.

I brought up that really Hamlet is a comedy, a dark comedy but a comedy none the less. I mentioned briefly one of the reason the 'Slaughterhouse' scene in R&G are Dead works so well is that Hamlet has the dark humor already built into the text. I found myself auguring the case further against some of my fellow students that could see nothing of comedy in a play were everyone (almost everyone) dies.

I maintain therein lies the dark humor.

Hamlet in his mock insanity often is darkly witty with his word play and doesn't hold is punches against anyone. Even with Ophelia, who we must believe he once –if not still- loved, his tongue is humorless dark. "Get thee to a nunn'ry…" he tells her, and though lost on most modern audiences Elizabethan audiences would recognized the double play on the word nunn'ry, slang for whore house. Hamlet's statement to the dead Polonius ("I took thee for thy better…") and the speech to Yorick's skull are disturbingly humorous in ways. The absurdity of giving a dead man a back handed compliment, or the image of a skull telling the Queen where she'd end up one day can be taken as darkly funny.

Claudius smoothly admitted incest, "Therefore our sometimes sister, now our Queen…" has enough built in humor it's hard to believe the man could say it with a straight face.

Ophelia's insanity is tragic by her words bitingly funny. Even playing the role seriously an actress could prompt laughter with just the right quirk to Ophelia.

Then end of the play if very much 'rocks fall everyone dies'. The main players drop like domino's with R&G being the last touch, the two almost forgotten characters by this point. No one wins but the man that the audience as barely scene; Fortinbras.

The idea of Hamlet as a dark comedy is hardly new or groundbreaking, while checking my term and quotes I even came across the wiki article on it. I'm sure if I looked sparknotes would have something to say on the matter. Strangely enough, for some in my class you would have thought I'd just told them that Jack and Rose really weren't on the Titanic. She who annoys became huffy and rolled her eyes, since she has taken it upon herself to disagree with everything I say.

The Professor pointed out that if Macbeth could be turned into the dark comedy of Scotland P.A. and Romeo and Juliet would be a comedy only for the lack of a happy ending, then Hamlet as dark comedy did not stretch things and ended the discussion.

Celebration and a T-shirt

Two wonderful pieces of news to quick share before I go back to studying.

1. I made the Dean's List for last semester

2. My paper on Juliet's agency received an A.

This is a bit of an in-joke with some of my fellow students but I thought I'd share:

Today’s Agenda (with updates)

• Go to class
  
• Oil Change and Car inspected (Failed! Epp! Something is wrong with my parking break)
  
• Work on cleaning closet
  
• Take clothing to Buffalo exchange
  
• Take recycling to center
  
• Email contact about the job opening
  
• Pick up more books from Library for research (will do during break in afternoon classes)
  
• Take kitchen table apart
  
• Finish the Inferno (two Cantos left)
  
• Finish reading Twelfth Night
  
• Finish Hamlet essay (Any excuse to watch Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, if you've never seen it I highly recommend it)
  
• Pack up things for Tuesday
  

ETA: Things also accomplished so far- Rehung curtains in my bedroom, hung hooks in closet, hung up clothes, moved winter coats to spare bedroom closet, and went through more clothing for Good Will.

Daughter of ETA: Purchased bathroom scale and bath pillow, picked up milk, & made dinner.

Weekend Breather

A weekend out at mum's and I feel decidedly better.

We went out yesterday to Goodwill, a Bath store (for bed risers), and B&N (where I found the radio show of Return of the Jedi). I found a great sling purse at Goodwill that will be wonderful for Ireland, and mum helped me find several pairs of jeans that didn't want to make me cry about my weight. We had lunch then went home. Mum fired up the spa and the weather was just warm enough and just cool enough to make it wonderful. We had crab cakes for dinner and watched Shrek 2 while drinking wine

This morning I slept in and watched the live action version of 101 Dalmatians with mum.

Boring yes, but it was nice not to have a million things to do.

The only real accomplishment this weekend happened today when mum helped me rearrange my bedroom, and I'm much happier with the layout.

I guess I just need to get out of my place for a few days, and change something's around. I have tomorrow off from work so I plan to finish up with a few things before everything starts back in full swing.

One of which is searching for my short essay on King's Quest as Secondary Epic. I might just try to write the blasted think again if I can't find it on my old hard drives. If nothing else I'll have a good reason to break out the games and the guide.

So while I can't believe tomorrow is Monday already, I think I can say I had a good break.

Why do I bother?

Why do I bother blogging these days?

I haven't written about anything really academic in a bit and no ones really interested in my life. I'm really not feeling as if I'm contributing anything, or getting anything back really. Just spam from trolls.

I think I'm taking a blogging break for a while. See you when I see you.

Breast Bands, Beowulf, and the Thirteenth Warrior

Moved this to its own post, added a few things. Plus how the hell did I type cliff notes instead of footnotes?

I've been playing Twilight Princess in between reading The Cambridge Companion to Dante. One of my big papers is tentatively going to look at Dante's Greek bias. The man seriously did not like the Greeks, not that the Classical sources he used helped matters. I should be working more on my research, since I have four big papers this semster (five if you count the take-home-essay test), but I needed a break.

I'm just so frustrated in my major research project, as anything over the lack of anything on breast binding or breast bands in the Middle Ages, other than the off-handed reference in the Gies' Life in a Medieval City. Curse the unhelpful footnotes and probably sources that are in other languages.

Curse my inability to speak anything but English and a smattering of Kilingon and Minbari.

I'm about ready to scrap the topic in favor of the Church's influence on sumptuary laws and how the power of the secular world eventaully overpowered it. I would love to stick to my original idea but I'm starting to think that I'll need resources that just aren't available to me as an undergrad in Texas.

Not helping matters is the fact I've been thinking off one of my classmates topics (he's looking at positive representations of Muslims in Medieval literature) and in a round about fashion brought my mind the The 13th Warrior (yes Beowulf, is Anglo-Saxon and wouldn't really work fall into his range, but my mind works in odd ways. Side note: Crichton used Beowulf as a 'inspiration' for Eaters of the Dead, later renamed to match the title of the movie. Now there's some mindless trivia for you). I'm now wanting to re-read Beowulf, and rewatch the movie, because I'm pretty sure my mind has jumbled up bits of the movie with bits of the book.

It is always interesting how much film can color our memory of a text.

Life in motion while standing still

I haven't accomplished much in the last few days, but I did manage one thing. Filling out my FAFSAs. While I'm not eligible for anything for 2006-2007, I will be eligible for 2007-2008. This takes a major load of my mind, and I rather hope I'm eligible for this niffy full tuition aid my U is offering.

Rearranging the bedroom? Didn't happen and unless my mum comes over to help, won't until my girl-friend comes back from spring break. I swear its like they knew and made sure we had spring break different weeks, but what can you do?

On the work side of things I haven't had to deal with either my director or the office manager all week. It's been heavenly. I also found out something that explains why my director pretty much called me a liar and did nothing about the situation. The office manager is friends with on of the other owners. I'm just glad to be leaving with the way they've been treating everyone lately. When the owners are quiting their jobs and driving new cars while cutting hours, claiming they can't afford it? Ha!

I will miss the kids, because when else in my life as someone walked up to me and said: "Ms. Geek, I'm a god", then walked away?

Korean food, spring break, and sitemeter

My place smells slightly of Kimchi, which makes sense since we made a batch of cucumber Kimchi last night. I also discovered, thanks to my girl-friend, a Korean supermarket not to far from me. Yay.

So, I'm on spring break and this means trying to accomplish things.

• Clean and rearrange bedroom
• Work on research projects
• Get my butt over to the library
• Find copy of the Dante Companion
• Track down more sumptuary laws for the 1300-1500s. I will find references to breast bands! I will!
• Take pictures of kitchen table and office chair to post on bulletin board downstairs.
• Fill out applications.
• Fill out financial aid stuff
• Sit by pool and read something that has nothing to do with any of my research

On a side note: As anyone been having trouble with their sitemeters? Mine hasn't budged in almost a week. Not to mention I can't get my comments to revert back to the holoscan version, so I'm not even sure if their working. Help?

Slightly drunken observation from the pub.

Some girls are like the purse dogs they keep: cute, yappy, and kept by people that think they complete their look.

Pachelbel's Canon in D

Even if you aren't a musician you should get a laugh out of this.

Spring Break? Really?

I'm officially on Spring Break. Not that I have time off from work, which for once I don't mind that we don't close like other Montessori schools because I can use every hour I can get between now and the end of the month.

Since I don't have classes I will be able to get some stuff done around my condo. Like gutting my closet (or at least cleaning it), and rearranging my bedroom. I'll also be able to, hopeful, get a good amount of my research done.

Sadly, I might just spend most of it by the pool enjoying the nice weather.

Work update

I handed in me registration letter today. As I expected my director refused to give any validation to my feelings on the subject or discipline the person in question. She also wanted me to stay. I respectful declined.

I'm going to miss my kids. I really am. I'm probably going to cry my last day.

So in three weeks I will be unemployed and this scares the shit out of me. I might have something sometime in March but it is still very much up in the air. I have no idea really what I'm going to do but start putting in applications and going to the student employment office at the SU. Plus apply for all the aid I can for the Ireland trip (which I paid the rest of my 'trip' fee today, a big chunk of money I really didn't have, and that doesn't even cover the tuition, airfare and meals in country).

I'm half-tempted to sell my Spam-a-lot tickets, but I've wanted to see if so badly for a long time.

Work Woes

I'm giving my notice at work tomorrow. Needless to say I can't give to many details, but I refuse to work someplace were anyone thinks they have the right to block me into a room and yell at me. Nor does anyone in the workplace have the right to tell me to "shut up" while blocking a door. I don't care how much attitude she thought I was giving her or if she thought I needed to 'calm down' (ie submit to her authority which I maintain she doesn't have).

All over bloody paper work. Oy. I hate politics and people with something to prove.

So, yes, today was not fun even though it started off very normal.

Not looking forward to see my director tomorrow to give her my letter. Or the fact I've been advised to have her sign off on a copy of the letter to verify that she received that letter.

So on the job hunt I go. I really have no idea what I'm going to do, other than hope that other job comes through in March.

Last Word Count Update

Because I know you all really want to see my final word count.

1,613 / 1,500 (107.5%)

Also: Twilight Princess is crack.

Word Count Update and News

1,222 / 1,500 (81.5%)

Almost there. This is one of those afternoons that I wish I could take my laptop with me to work and work on school work. Ah well.

In much more exciting news I was accepted to study aboard in Ireland for three weeks this summer! Go me!