I should be studying right now (when don't I think that?), but I'm writing this instead. I'm hanging out in my office, window open to catch some of the beautiful day we are enjoying here in Knoxville. After several weeks of aching cold, its good to have a day of 66 degrees with gorgeous sunshine and brilliant blue skies.
These past few weeks have been pretty busy for me. In fact, this past week was the worst--six books to read; a six-page book review, two-page book review, and a five-page book review to be written; what amounted to a nine-page handout summarizing some of said books and preparing for discussion lead in my Wednesday class. Just writing this now, I can't believe I've lived long enough to tell the tale!
But there was fun as well. Since my last blog, we have had some more snow here in Eastern Tennessee. I'm finding that I LOVE the snow, but only on days when I can remain cozily in my tiny flat, open the blinds, and watch it fall. I haven't actually had to drive in the snow as yet, thank goodness However, one afternoon at school it did snow during the school day. Chantalle and I had walked to the building next door, Greve, to get something to eat. Cloudy skies overhead as we came back, yet, somehow, by the time we reached the first-floor lounge, snow was whirling down and around the building. Thank goodness, it didn't really stick, and I was able to drive home on safe, dry streets. But I still say that I LOVE the snow.
The snow in the photo above did not keep me inside when my sister mentioned that there might be a package for me at the office of my apartment complex. Thank goodness I had my new snow boots because the Valentine's Day box of cookies from sister, brother-in-law, and nephew was well worth a walk in the snow.
I have started keeping bits of information in my notebook of things I learned that surprised me. Here's one:
Polish General and U.S. Revolutionary War hero Thaddeus Kosciuszko put in his will that Thomas Jefferson should serve as executor of his estate, an estate eventually valued at $17,000 (a tidy sum in the early nineteenth century). The money left in the estate after Kosciuszko's debts were settled was to be used to buy and free as many of Thomas Jefferson's slaves as it could. The dirty dog of Monticello refused to serve as executor, leaving the matter to languish in the probate court from 1817 to 1852 when what was left of the funds were finally disbursed--long after Jefferson was dead. For a man constantly in need of money and supposedly ambivalent about slavery, Jefferson had a chance to do something about both issues--FAIL!!!On the fun side of life, I went bowling two weeks ago--the first time since the girls and I bowled in Santa Monica many moons ago. Let me tell you, bowling against the kids from the party office left me: (1) physically exhausted, with a hand so swollen when I got home that I couldn't get my ring off; and (2) so much fun that I felt some of the last six months' worth of stress lighten up a bit.
The same day as my adventure into the beer-guzzling world of bowling, I actually attended my first honest-to-God protest rally (supporting the troops during the First Gulf War doesn't count as "protest"). The rally was a combined effort to demonstrate on behalf of campus workers against out-sourcing, to protest politically based efforts to influence curricula, and to exclaim in disgust over the Tennessee legislature's efforts to curb diversity efforts at all UT campuses--especially UTK. While I do actually supportive of all these issues, I really went to support my beloved Dr. S. (remember her from my gender class last semester) and pal Nick, the 80s generation's Bernie Sanders.
Last night saw a little more of that stress slip away--this time playing pub trivia. Now mind you, I've only done that once before, so I'm a relative newbie at the game. But, with a team consisting of J, Annie, Drew, Kate, Nick, Chantalle, and me--well, how could we lose?
Lovely Chantalle
Head-cold suffering Dr. Bob stopped by to say hello.
Drew and his pal, the fun-loving and funny Kate.
Party office residents J and Annie
"Weekend" Nick
At half-time, we were well ahead of our competition. The fact that we sat right next to the drunken man who was running the game did not hurt our chances any. Sadly, however, we fell mightily in the second half, eventually not even finishing in the top three. All that in spite of the fact that I knew that Adam Levine was one of two of People Magazine's Sexiest Man of the Year who weren't actors (we never came up with JFK, Jr., as the other). The time and effort that Alex, Vanessa, and Matt Fisher of the legendary McGeorge Housing Mediation Center spent in educating me on popular culture finally paid off.
Regardless of our loss, I had a ridiculously good time. It becomes more and more clear to me that I need these episodes of blowing off steam and having a good time. While I spend the vast majority of my time working, and must do so in order to keep up with the demands grad school makes on my time, knowing that every now and again I can switch gears and do something completely for relaxation makes me much more focused when I do sit down to work.
Now I need to finish up this blog and do a bit more work so I can go off bowling again tonight. Wish me luck!!
