BitchBuzz: How to Pack Like a Pro

Does this count as at least thinking about packing for England? I have got as far as realising I need to do some laundry before packing. Today will be for catching up on all grading. I've canceled the play reading for Tuesday: what was I thinking anyway?! It would have been insane. I forgot Monday was a holiday, too. I need minions.

How To Pack Like a Pro
By K. A. Laity

You don't need that and you will regret having to carry it: trust me.

I long for the days when a fleet of servants not only packed your traveling trunks but carted them around for you (sometimes literally). At that time (and in that class) you might have your leather martini case with beaker and matching glasses to ease the pain of waiting for them to unload your luggage and then unpack all the clothes they had so lovingly packed in the first place.

Most of us, however, have to tote our own baggage. Sure, it's a lot easier now with all the wheels and roller bags (oh my, how much easier) but that's also made us lazy about making decisions. People generally pack far too much. Then they regret it when they find they've bought too much stuff and now their case won't close. You should have room in your case when you leave so the inevitable additions can go somewhere without busting your seams...

Read the rest at BBHQ: less than a week before I vault off across the pond. Yikes! Much to do; at least all the medical folderol has been completed and the form giving me medical clearance should have been sent. Despite the look of it, my TB test was negative -- just bruised (and a lump for the first day).

Hectic

Paperwork for the Fulbright to prepare; details to work out; pictures for the work permit; appointments to schedule; belongings to jettison; prep for the reading of "Lumottu"; revisions of essays to finish; grading grading grading. So, um -- here's something from the Fall!

Relieved (sort of)

Well, grades are in, but as we all know, that isn't necessarily the end of the story, so I brace myself for those who are unhappy. One student has already complained about a grade before the final grades were entered, so the odds are good that there will end up being some kind of dispute. So it goes.

Hey, here's a cute baby horse picture thanks to Cute Overload (AKA something to cheer the blackest heart). I feel better now. Don't you?

I shall force myself to feel some relief, too. Endpoints and beginnings are important to note. I had lunch with a very smart graduating senior who cheered me immensely, and it is Tuesday, which means a beer at Mahar's with the History and Political Science folks. Tonight we sign the lease on our new apartment, too, so that's good. Tomorrow morning it's off to Kalamazoo. I'll join Faye and Miss Wendy in Detroit, and then the three Furies will drive across the state to the big medieval geek fest.

The rest of the summer will be devoted to avoiding semi-colons.

Teaser

More information in about a week, but here's the cover from a book collection that I'll be in. My contribution is an essay on Grendel in Beowulf. You can guess the theme, right?

I wrote this piece so long ago and the project has had such a tortured history, that I had quite forgotten about it (although its ghost still lingered on my CV). Out of the blue an email came from the editor today, saying, "Guess what?!"

Soon you'll have something to chew on. ;-)

One final down, two to go and grading in between: our year end tenure reports are due today, too. Nonetheless, I hope to do the Nick Lowe review this afternoon if I can squeeze it in. Can I say again, what a great show?

Ars est celare artem

I meant to get around to talking about Eric Idle's Road to Mars before now, but I haven't had the time or idleness, I suppose. I still don't. But he uses Ovid's famous observation that the true art is to conceal art (or, I suppose, Crispinus might want me to be more direct and say "it is art to conceal art" [though shouldn't "est" be at the end? aren't the verbs always at the end? I reveal my artlessness when it comes to Latin]).

This seems the task of the writer (of course), but also of the junior faculty member, who must do many things to look impressive and make them all seem possible, even effortless. By midterm, however, the juggling becomes a strain as I wonder for the millionth time how it will all get done. One step at a time, as always -- and not lapsing into too much idleness (literally in this case).

More forthcoming on the White Face and the Red Nose... once I've finished grading.