In my last column, I discussed my need to get the hell out of dodge so I could shake the anger and misery of a bad school year. I’m not sure going on a cross country road trip was the way to do it. << MORE >>
The academic year is over. I have no major complaints. I’m still employed and most of my colleagues are still speaking to me. My night table is stacked with delectable goodies to read, and my TIVO is almost filled to capacity with the past year’s Masterpiece Theatres just waiting for me to submit my final grades.<< MORE >>
When we were growing up, my brother and I weren’t allowed to eat cereal with marshmallows. Every two weeks, Mom would take us to the store, hand us a stack of coupons, and tell us to find cereal that matched the coupons. Shuffling through the stack, I would always pick out Froot Loops, Trix, and Fruity Pebbles, but my brother, ever the cheapo, would make me take the cereal that had the highest dollar savings on its corresponding coupon.
As a result, boxes and boxes of Life cereal traveled through my childhood. Damn you, Mikey!<< MORE >>
A friend once told me that the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result. According to this definition, then, I’m insane.
<< MORE >>My favorite song by the Dixie Chicks is “Wide Open Spaces.”
Here are a few lyrics:
Room to make her big mistakes
She needs new faces
She knows the high stakes.<< MORE >>
This month I became a chestnut, otherwise known as a first time reader for a national testing service. Although I did feel significantly nuttier by the end of the scoring session, I don’t know why they call us chestnuts.
I’ve been thinking a lot about money lately. Our university’s faculty are part of a union. This year, we’re renegotiating our contract, and our major appeal is for more money.
I recently celebrated a birthday whose arrival nearly traumatized me.