I missed you guys. Did you miss me? Oh sure. I bet you say that to all the bloggers that ignore you in favor of educational advancement. Whatever. Anyway here we go:
I just handed in one of my finals. I have one last final due next week and then it’s Sianara Semester! Unless I am mistaken (or unless I jinx it by writing about it here) I have just scored myself an A in my first graduate level class. This class (the one with Talking Stick Woman, for those who know me personally) was nothing like I thought it would be. It made me crazy frustrated. Admittedly, if I had not spent the entire semester up on my huffy bike and put forth a little more effort, I probably would have enjoyed the class more. On the same turn, though, I was dealing with a lot of external shit this semester and I just didn’t have the patience to be all floaty touchy feely with this class. Give me rock hard expectations and I’ll meet them. Being the guinea pig class for this professor didn’t help either as we sort of stumbled around in the dark about what the hell we were doing. That’s not to say I wasn’t challenged or that I didn’t learn anything, because I did. Just not what I wanted to learn. I’m not sure how I feel about this. Part of me is glad — I learn very well from the school of errors and missteps. But a larger part of me craved something more focused and direct. I also learned a great deal from my peers who were 13 different levels of awesome. I’m looking forward to taking classes with them next semester. As a nice ending to the class, our professor gave us each a copy of The Elements of Style. If you are a publishing dork or a writing nerd you know why this book is awesome. It’s gold. It simultaneously manages to make you feel as though you have the potential to be the best writer in the world and then whacks you over the head for all of the dumb-ass mistakes you make in your writing. I love this book. I have a battered moldy copy from the Seventies that I picked up at some yard sale or thrift store and I am happy to replace it with this sleek updated illustrated volume. You should get one. It makes a great gift!
Like I said, I have one final due next week and then I’m off for a full month! I have the final all mapped out, all I have to do is put it all together. It’s what I’ll be doing all weekend, so don’t call me and ask me to hang out. No. I can’t, I told you. One last final and then I’m available for parties and makeouts. Promise.
I’ve been complaining about work a lot in this space. But through all the suck, ick, and aggravation, I’ve neglected to mention something that’s happened that has been very, very nice: I’ve made a new friend. A relatively new editor and I have gotten chummy. He and his wife are super fun people and we’ve begun having semi-regular lunches with other coworkers at a local vegan Chinese food place where we discuss liberal politics, Harry Potter theories, and Christopher Guest movies. Really, what more could you want in a friend or coworker? Not that there was anything wrong with my other work friends (even if those higher ups are trying to tear us apart by dismantling my beloved Production Row!), but we’ve all been fairly downtrodden lately for various reasons. It’s nice to have someone to talk to who hasn’t been bogged down by all of the crap in this place. Although, I’m sure it will eventually get to him too. For now, though, it’s a much needed bright spot.
Oh my god you guys, I haven’t done any Christmas shopping yet. None. Worse, I don’t have any idea what to get for people. To make matters worse, I’m going through a bit of a selfish phase right now. The two times I tried to go Christmas shopping I ended up walking around all, “I want this! And this! Ooooo, and THIS! Ok, maybe this might make an okay present for mom. But I want three of these too! And this!” You get the idea. It’s a real problem.
I’ve heard from the Doc, and he’s doing well. He’s quite weak and busy recuperating and it’s still such a long road for him, but to hear from him personally, via email, is such a weight off my shoulders. The fact that he still sounds like himself is an even greater comfort. Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers for him and for putting up with me as I lost my shit all over the place as I tried to help him before he left. Cancer can still BITE ME for fucking with my friends this year.
Earlier this month Kelly and I went to J.J.’s workshop and let me tell you: that man knows his photography. Which I obviously already knew but…wow. Just wow. It was an intense and amazing session. And also overwhelming. I learned so, so much and I am so glad that I went. One of the coolest parts of the session was when we looked at the photography we brought with us and J.J. critiqued it. And! He said nice things about my photos. That made me feel good. I really needed this session, I think, and I left feeling quite inspired. I learned about those technical doo-dads I was unsure about before and picked up a couple of cool tricks too. Already I can see a difference in my work. I promise to post some pictures soon. J.J. will be having more workshops later this winter and I highly recommend them to those of you out there who are interested in learning more about photography (Ahem, Redhead’s boyfriend and Tamika).
Oh Jesus, what else? I have so much more, but I’m losing steam. Right now, I think it’s time for a beer and some down time before hitting the track tomorrow with that last final.
I just handed in one of my finals. I have one last final due next week and then it’s Sianara Semester! Unless I am mistaken (or unless I jinx it by writing about it here) I have just scored myself an A in my first graduate level class. This class (the one with Talking Stick Woman, for those who know me personally) was nothing like I thought it would be. It made me crazy frustrated. Admittedly, if I had not spent the entire semester up on my huffy bike and put forth a little more effort, I probably would have enjoyed the class more. On the same turn, though, I was dealing with a lot of external shit this semester and I just didn’t have the patience to be all floaty touchy feely with this class. Give me rock hard expectations and I’ll meet them. Being the guinea pig class for this professor didn’t help either as we sort of stumbled around in the dark about what the hell we were doing. That’s not to say I wasn’t challenged or that I didn’t learn anything, because I did. Just not what I wanted to learn. I’m not sure how I feel about this. Part of me is glad — I learn very well from the school of errors and missteps. But a larger part of me craved something more focused and direct. I also learned a great deal from my peers who were 13 different levels of awesome. I’m looking forward to taking classes with them next semester. As a nice ending to the class, our professor gave us each a copy of The Elements of Style. If you are a publishing dork or a writing nerd you know why this book is awesome. It’s gold. It simultaneously manages to make you feel as though you have the potential to be the best writer in the world and then whacks you over the head for all of the dumb-ass mistakes you make in your writing. I love this book. I have a battered moldy copy from the Seventies that I picked up at some yard sale or thrift store and I am happy to replace it with this sleek updated illustrated volume. You should get one. It makes a great gift!
Like I said, I have one final due next week and then I’m off for a full month! I have the final all mapped out, all I have to do is put it all together. It’s what I’ll be doing all weekend, so don’t call me and ask me to hang out. No. I can’t, I told you. One last final and then I’m available for parties and makeouts. Promise.
I’ve been complaining about work a lot in this space. But through all the suck, ick, and aggravation, I’ve neglected to mention something that’s happened that has been very, very nice: I’ve made a new friend. A relatively new editor and I have gotten chummy. He and his wife are super fun people and we’ve begun having semi-regular lunches with other coworkers at a local vegan Chinese food place where we discuss liberal politics, Harry Potter theories, and Christopher Guest movies. Really, what more could you want in a friend or coworker? Not that there was anything wrong with my other work friends (even if those higher ups are trying to tear us apart by dismantling my beloved Production Row!), but we’ve all been fairly downtrodden lately for various reasons. It’s nice to have someone to talk to who hasn’t been bogged down by all of the crap in this place. Although, I’m sure it will eventually get to him too. For now, though, it’s a much needed bright spot.
Oh my god you guys, I haven’t done any Christmas shopping yet. None. Worse, I don’t have any idea what to get for people. To make matters worse, I’m going through a bit of a selfish phase right now. The two times I tried to go Christmas shopping I ended up walking around all, “I want this! And this! Ooooo, and THIS! Ok, maybe this might make an okay present for mom. But I want three of these too! And this!” You get the idea. It’s a real problem.
I’ve heard from the Doc, and he’s doing well. He’s quite weak and busy recuperating and it’s still such a long road for him, but to hear from him personally, via email, is such a weight off my shoulders. The fact that he still sounds like himself is an even greater comfort. Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers for him and for putting up with me as I lost my shit all over the place as I tried to help him before he left. Cancer can still BITE ME for fucking with my friends this year.
Earlier this month Kelly and I went to J.J.’s workshop and let me tell you: that man knows his photography. Which I obviously already knew but…wow. Just wow. It was an intense and amazing session. And also overwhelming. I learned so, so much and I am so glad that I went. One of the coolest parts of the session was when we looked at the photography we brought with us and J.J. critiqued it. And! He said nice things about my photos. That made me feel good. I really needed this session, I think, and I left feeling quite inspired. I learned about those technical doo-dads I was unsure about before and picked up a couple of cool tricks too. Already I can see a difference in my work. I promise to post some pictures soon. J.J. will be having more workshops later this winter and I highly recommend them to those of you out there who are interested in learning more about photography (Ahem, Redhead’s boyfriend and Tamika).
Oh Jesus, what else? I have so much more, but I’m losing steam. Right now, I think it’s time for a beer and some down time before hitting the track tomorrow with that last final.
Labels: Catch-up, Miscellania
2 Comments:
I don't have a boyfriend, I have a patient. ;-)
btw: Glad you cleared up those lunches. I was starting to think it was a very odd romance.
For the record, "the Vegan" (new blog nickname?) is cool.
Good luck with your project.
You would love The Vegan's wife. She reminds me of you -- ballsy and funny. Hmmm...I think you might get an invite to the next lunch!
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