Detox

So, I'm done. With everything. As my dad says, I'm a free agent. I stayed at school until ten Wednesday to finish grades, but then I didn't have to go back at all. The past few days have been great; I've been winding down from the hardest semester ever.

Thursday night we got half a foot of snow, and my normally one hour drive turned into three as I made my way to the movie theater for HPIV again and TL, TW, & TW. I think this HP movie is my second favorite but close to first. I waffle between whether I like the third or fourth book better, so its an understandably tough decision. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was amazing. I loved it; I cried for a bunch of it. For me that's one of the signs of a good movie. I haven't read the book in a long, long time and have only read half of the series, so I don't even live on the same street as intense fans. But still, I think it accurately represents Lewis's vision.

Over the past few days, I've also watched Silence of the Lambs, The Thin Man, Reign of Fire, The Reckoning, and Chinatown. Yesterday I read two trashy novels and decorated the Christmas tree. Today I watched a cool documentary on the National Geographic Channel about tattoos. I baked cookies. I did laundry. I started On Beauty by Zadie Smith (whose White Teeth I adore), which is a love letter to E. M. Forster's Howards End (which I also adore).

Yipee-Kai-Yai-Yea!

I've finished everything for the classes I'm taking. I had a final tonight that was okay; I don't think there's a danger of a C, and I got an A- on my paper, so huzzah! Even if I do get a B, I suppose I don't need to get into any more schools. This is a terminal degree if I can maintain the energy and pace of grad school for three and a half more years or so.

Tomorrow I've got grading to do; Wednesday, I'm 'giving a final' (aka sitting in the room while they turn in portfolios). I'll have to grade those, assign the final grades, and then I'll be done!

I can't wait to consume massive quantities of narratives (books and movies)! Thursday Katie and I are going to see Harry Potter IV and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Should be lots o' fun.

The End is Ne---Here!

I'm done; I'm done! I turned in my final paper last night. I still have a final test to take and lot o' grading to do, but that's much easier (or at least not as critical) than the research paper...well, the final is half of my grade, so I guess that's significant.

Now I can give real attention to my new obsession...Veronica Mars. I love it a lot, and I'm only a few episodes in. It's the combination of my two favorite tv shows--Twin Peaks and Buffy. There's an intriguing, overarching mystery, plus witty dialogue that blends high and pop culture. More ruminations on the show will surely follow.

What're You?

Season Seven - You're about looking at the world as
a whole, looking at the grand design of things,
the way good balances evil. You are Buffy
philosophy, and your best episode is
"Conversations with Dead People."

Which Season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Are You?
brought to you by

Gobble, Gobble!

Happy Thanksgiving all! I hope you had a wonderful time celebrating with family. I've took today and yesterday afternoon/evening off. My brain was fried. Now I really have to be on the ball for the next few days. Two papers to go and then...

One Thing Off the List

I finish my presentation on John Maynard Keynes last night. I don't think my presentation and annotated bibliography were especially great, but they got the job done. Now I'm off to the library to read about Dryden.

I Should Be Sleeping Right Now

or at the very least doing homework. I'm supposed to give a presentation on Tuesday and produce two well-researched/situated in the body of criticism 15-20 page papers by Monday and Tuesday of next week. I only have vaguely read for any of the three topics and have not really set much down on paper. I just spent the weekend on a quilting retreat with Mom and Bridget (it was planned in June, too far back to forsee the trouble I'd be in now!). That was interesting and fun. Sometime I'll show my work, but right now no digital camera :(, though I'm hoping Christmas brings one.

But I've been dragged to post because my Google homepage had a fun quote that I wanted to share:

Once the game is over, the King and the pawn go back in the same box.

If anyone knows a ton about John Dryden and translation, Virgina Woolf and Orlando (both book and Sally Potter's film), or John Maynard Keynes and the Bloomsbury group and would like to chat...

The Goblet of Fire

I had fun. I'm impressed that my mom didn't fall asleep in the middle. I liked the movie. I don't have any profound or insightful thoughts about how it functions as an adaptation yet. It seemed rushed--I'm glad I've read the book a couple of times--but what else can you do with that size novel and still keep it watchable? Ralph Fiennes is awesome, I can't wait until the next movies when he'll be on screen more. All the boys are getting so dang cute. I enjoyed the Krum-Hermoine-Ron triangle. Cho's accent is adorable.

Overall, I think I still might like the third movie better, but I'm withholding final judgment until I've had multiple viewings, which will hopefully happen over break!

HP, HP, HP

The count down is on, just eleven hours and twenty-six minutes until Goblet of Fire.

Itunes has Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint's Celebrity playlist (no such luck in linking, I think you have to have itunes on your computer). Although Daniel generally strikes me as twitchy (not of the ferret variety) and a bit of a spaz in interviews, etc, his music choice fairly well articulated (although he feels the need to give biography at every turn "they have two albums and the second is great, but I've chosen from their first..." etc.) and thoughtful. Rupert's is mostly silly, in the sense that his justification for adding a song is "I went to the conert." I was also struck by the "it was great to finally meet;" he's seventeen, how long could he possibly have been pining to meet this singer?

A couple of days ago when I went to buy tickets for GoF, I was nervous because I'd waited so long. When I asked the girl working, "Have you sold out of tickets for the midnight showing of Harry Potter?" she shook her head, yes and remained silent. Sadly, I asked "When's the next show available?" thinking I could see it Friday morning. Her reply: "12:02." Needing clarification I asked, "As in a minute after the 12:01 showing?" "Yes." Rather than belabouring the point (seriously, doesn't 'midnight show' apply to both 12:01 and 12:02?), I got two tickets and left.

Now the only question is to wear the full on Hermoine outfit, or the "Single and Ready to Get Sirius" t-shirt.

All Hail, Google!

Okay, I know they're sort of taking over the world, but with good reason. Google is awesome. For awhile I've been using their customizable search/home page, adding nifty things like my gmail, word of the day, local show times, weather, top entertainment news, fun quotes, etc. But just recently did I think to add blogs! Now I can save precious seconds from my neurotic (seriously bordering on OCD) checking routine that I go through every time I go on the internet. No more do I have to tediously click to all the sites, but at a single glance, my google homepage tells me who of you have been good posters (lots of people: Eden, Lij, Katie, Elaine, Lana, Jeff) and who has been bad (pretty much just Emily)!

So, I encourage all of you to do likewise and hop on the google train, there's plenty of room on board! Whoo-whoo!

(Incidentaly, if any of you needs a gmail invite, let me know!)

(Um, spell check doesn't recognize google. Blogger is owned by google. Will wonders never cease?)

Disappointing

I should have learned my lesson, or rather, Eden's lesson. A number of years ago when we went to see The Talented Mr. Ripley, Eden, being in love with Jude Law, was disturbed by the content found therein and decided that one should not see a movie just because of an actor.

Now, obviously, a film's cast is central to the success of a film, but the actors cannot carry it. The trailer for Derailed struck me as unremarkable, there's nothing in the story that appeals to me. Had other people been in it, I probably wouldn't have wanted to see it. But because of Clive and Vincent, I thought, certainly, it'll be enjoyable. Sadly, no. Indeed the narrative was insipid and, lamentably, my boys weren't remarkable. Clive's American accent left something to be desired. Not really what I needed for my first movie theatre experience in two months.

I Should Have Learned By Now

That when this particular teacher suggests that we may get out of class early, she does not in fact mean it, that indeed, she means we'll be getting out of class ten minutes late, which at nine o'clock at night is rather aggravating, especially when you've got a 35 minute commute ahead of you.

My goal today is to finish a draft of one of my big papers. If I could get that done, boy, oh boy would that be energizing. Unfortunately, it won't happen if I stay whiling away time in blog land.

But, I do have to say that over the past couple of weeks I've had the opportunity to watch some fun new Irish films, both excellent: The Boys and Girl From County Clare (fun music, Andrea Corr fiddling, comedic, people you'll recognize) and Rory O'Shea was Here (humorous, but typically Irish--read, not ultimately uplifting--very poignant though, excellent use of Johnny Cash's song "Hurt" and James McAvoy, one to be looking for and loving).

A Cathartic Moment

So here's my frustration(s):

1. I'm in grad school so that I can go be a teacher at a Christian college. Often, my school feels like a very dark, God-less place--an environment that I wouldn't want to put myself in because I know that I don't grow spiritually in such places. Nonetheless, I'm here so that I can ultimately be better qualified to teach at a Christian university, but the longer I'm here and I feel my relationship with God deteriorating (that's what it feels like now), the less I want to be here so that I can be in a Christian environment. If I were to leave and go to a more spiritually vibrant environment, I'm pretty sure that would intensify my desire to have my PhD so that I can go teach at a Christian college. A sticky wicket.

2. I'm getting sick and tired of being single, but thinking that I might meet a guy (it doesn't even have to be the guy, just anyone that is mildly interested in me romantically). I tried to write one of my "To Whom It May Concern" poems last night when I couldn't sleep, but I just ended up writing "God, why can't something just happen?" over and over.

Happy New Month!

Where are the days going? Do you realize that I only have four weeks left before all my papers are due? That there are only five weeks left in the semester? Egad.

I: finally started one of my papers, think I have an idea for the second, am clueless about the third. So, it goes from alright to downright scary. But, I'm no longer working at ATL or going to conferences this semester (although I do have a quilt retreat coming up before Thanksgiving), so, hopefully, I'll be able to kick it into high gear!

Because I only have time to watch ten or fifteen minutes at a time of fun movies, my queue moves along slowly. I did finally get through The Doctor and the Devils, starring Timothy Dalton, Julian Sands (yum!), Jonathan Pryce, and Stephan Rea (whoo-hoo!) based on a screenplay written by Dylan Thomas!

On a separate note, I am continually amazed by the things you can buy online. Will wonders never cease?

Sleepy Sleep

Last night I went to a Halloween party; it was rather fun. We were all dressed as allegorical figures; I went as grief. I was a grieving widow with a black hat with veil, black gloves, a calla lily, pearls (a rich grieving widow!)--it was a bit Jackie O. Once again Josh set an incredible table...he told me that every man after him was going to be a disappointment because none would be able to live up to him. While I agree, I think the obvious (he's not looking for a girl) will be able to sustain me. (Besides I like to cook, so I don't mind if that's my job.)

The extra hour of sleep was wonderful...I went to the earlier church service instead of the later one. This worked out nicely; I ran into Jeff, who I haven't seen in a long time, and set up dinner on Thursday. I might go to his small group, too, though I really oughtn't give up such a huge block of time, academically. However, spiritually, I need to have some fellowship. Though there are other Christians at my school, I'm not really tight with any of them, and I feel myself becoming jaded and hard in the environment.

I got to see Katie! This was wonderful; I wish she and the other girls from school could all be nearby enough that we could do stuff together. (As in running errands, having meals, etc. the everyday things, as opposed to the big we-are-getting-together-and-doing-something sort of things.)

I took a nap (despite daylight savings' gift of an hour) and am still a bit discombobulated, hence the lack of transitions between thoughts.

A Oath to Myself

I haven't been to a movie in over a month. I hate it. I hate that I don't have the time and have to be so discerning in which films I see in the theatre because I don't get to go every week. This weekend I was finally going to be able to visit my local Kerasotes, and the two films I'd been eagerly anticipating (Proof and Serenity) both left on Thursday. Double-guh-err.

Today I saw my first trailer for Derailed, a Clive Owen/ Jennifer Aniston film that I was slightly aware of and, well, excited inasmuch as I adored Clive but am not crazy about Jennifer. So watching the trailer with mild interest, I catch a brief (and I mean brief) shot of a bearded man that sent me rushing to IMDB to find...YES! it was! it is! be still my heart!

Vincent Cassel

My top two celebrity crushes are appearing in a film together. Come hell or high water, I am seeing that film opening weekend.

Autumn is a Collegiate Season

I love today. I didn't set an alarm clock, but got up around 8:30 satiated. I was able to go for a long walk in the woods. I've been able to be semi-productive, but yet relaxed...grading papers while watching the second half of The Cooler and Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen. I don't have to drive anywhere, go to class, nothing. All that is required of me is that I sit at home (my favorite thing ever), drink hot chocolate, and listen to British 80s pop music.

Sure, I've got lots of school work to be doing, which I'm rocking! (98 on my Irish presentation last week--nobody gets full credit in grad school.) But I have time to concentrate on school, since I'm not leaving the state this weekend! Huzzah! Huzzah!

Done and Done.

Finished with pumping the resume with conference presentations for now. I'm tired and need a normal weekend to do normal weekend things like grade papers, read books, and work on term papers. I put my two week notice in at ATL because I feel overwhelmed by the fact that I haven't had a chance to do anything to get ahead, only keep my head above water. Almost every night before class, I'm still finishing the reading until the hour before, which doesn't give me much time to process the information so that I have smart things to say in class. Tonight I'm going to see how much of To the Lighthouse I can get through before falling asleep. Virgina Woolf (Woolfie, as I've taken to calling her) needs a rather alert mind to comprehend. But I'll try.

Shocking

My presentation went well even though I was talking a mile a minute in order to get all my information in before 8:40. I didn't want to be the person who keeps everyone after class; people just want to go home by that point. Plus, I nearly electrocuted myself plugging in the dvd player to show a clip. My hand has mostly stopped tingling at this point.

How about a media update? I read J.M. Coetzee's Disgrace. I read Brian Friel's Translations and am watching a movie based on his play Philadelphia, Here I Come. I partially read Lytton Strachey's Eminent Victorians and Salaman Rushdie's Midnight's Children. I haven't had much time to watch anything else, all though I am catching the odd episode of Sex and the City before I go to bed. Amusing.

Right now, I wish I had time to reread all the Harry Potter books because everyone at the conference knew the minutest details about the stories that I couldn't remember (and I like to think I have a pretty sharp reading eye). Alas, probably not until Christmas or even next summer with how many books and movies I've said I'll deal with over Christmas break. I mean I haven't even seen Serenity yet--that's how busy I am.

Under Your Spell

I just returned yesterday from a five-day Harry Potter conference in Salem, MA. It was exhilarating and exhausting. Programming from 9am to 11pm, plus an hour or so of transportation on either end, plus trying to spend time with my brother/sister-in-law/niece, as well as my roomie/her husband/their daughter (my goddaughter). I had a ton of fun, got a lot of good ideas on how to use HP in the class, and communed with fellow HP lovers. There's lots more I could say, and I hope to have the time, but for now, I'll just link to my favorite part of the trip: Harry and the Potters, a punk band comprised of Harry Potter Year 4 and Harry Potter Year 7, these brothers rock! They have awesome songs like "Save Ginny Weasley," "Voldemorte Can't Stop the Rock," "SPEW," "The Missing Arm of Viktor Krum," and "Stick it to Dolores" amongst others. They were awesome. I bought t-shirts; I ordered cd's. You should, too.