The Past Week

It's been a busy week. What has taken all my time?

Comps. I'm working on getting together additional material, criticism for The Dubliners to bring to the group. Did you know that after Shakespeare James Joyce is the most wrote about author? And he only had about four works, so one can imagine the amount of material that exists out there. Weeding through it all only takes time, something that I don't always want to give to it. While I did not have a handout ready for my group, another girl who was dealing with some of the theory did, and as we were talking about the theory, I was very able to apply it to The Dubliners and create synthesis that way. So, it all turned out alright, even though I still need to make a handout. Plus, one of the girls in my group brought me a the In Good Company soundtrack, which I haven't seen yet, but she made me promise to see it, and then told me I'd want the soundtrack as soon as I had, so here it was. Unexpectedly lovely. New music is always nice. I'm just now listening to it. There's a lot of Iron & Wine (if you'll recall they are also on the Garden State soundtrack).

Application. On Tuesday I spent a lot of time working on my application for the doctoral program. I wrote my personal statement, which is scary because that's pretty much all they get of you. There's no interview, just one page telling them how smart you are and how you'll do the university proud (or at least that's what they want to hear). Okay, they do look at a writing sample as well, which I worked on cleaning up for last semester. I had a friend who's already in the program edit my personal statement. He also edited my paper last semester, so if I get in I'll owe him a thank you card. (Not that I don't all the time anyway. He's always and forever cooking for us, letting us hang out at his house; he brought me tea from England--the list goes on.)

Carnivale. I've only watched two episodes, because I can only get a disc at a time through the mail (or rather three, but it just now hit the top of my list). I knew it was coming so I was trying to get through what I'd received but not watched yet, like Maria Full of Grace (lots to say about that, but I don't have the energy). So Carnivale is quite good. It reminds me of Twin Peaks in some ways. And I adore that series.

Oscars. Okay, so this hasn't taken too much of my time, but I was excited when the nominations finally came out. No surprises (sorry Tina), but that's okay. I then had to determine which I'd seen and hadn't and where and when I'd see the rest. Just to share with the rest of the world. Ray comes out on DVD on February 1st, Motorcycle Diaries February 15th. Already available on DVD are: Collateral, Shrek 2, Before Sunset, Story of the Weeping Camel, and Super Size Me. Hopefully the rest are coming soon to a theatre near you. I'm a bit concerned that Sideways is never going to come to Rockford, and I'll not be able to see one that's nominated for Best Picture. Maybe I'll just have to roadtrip-it to some place that has the good sense to show it.

Classes. Yes, I also have to teach and take classes, and right now I have about forty papers that should be read and commented on before tomorrow. I have low expectations for actual completion.