Yes, today’s Hallowe’en. That’s special enough. But it’s also youngest’s birthday and she’s so very happy, not only with her presents but also her costume (pink ninja!) which she got to wear at school. And there’s a Playmobil Viking fortress on the coffee table in front of her and the prospect of watching the skies, […]
Returned from my conference flush with three copies of the published proceedings (one for the library, one for the department display case and one for me). It’s softcover, though, and bound with that slick covering that discolours, ever so slightly, at the least bit of skin oil.
Oh, that pains me so. I rub at the […]
I’m teaching an overload this term. A paid overload. Well, at least, theoretically a paid overload. Getting that payment is turning out to be a mildly frustrating activity.
Last month, I got a note from the secretary to swing by payroll and pick up the cheque they’d cut for my overload payment that had somehow missed […]
Despite being a bit sleep-deprived today (youngest woke up before six and couldn’t get back to sleep), I registered a mark in her column on the calendar for today. Good thing or she might have missed her long-anticipated outing to Ruckers courtesy of the local Child Care Resource Respite Program.
Dean Dad, whose wisdom and insight should be required reading for every academic, shares something valuable from a book he’s been reading, The College Administrator’s Survival Guide: the concept of the “victim bully”:
Gunsalus distinguishes between traditional, assertive bullies, who throw their weight around with bluster and force, and ‘victim bullies,’ who use claims of […]
Fall break begins on Monday. But those of you who know the drill realize that, effectively, it began some point on Thursday. Classroom attendance plummets dramatically at the end of the week before a break and my first year class was down about 30% on Thursday. Not a good sign! Thus, I was quite pleased […]
Nothing beats the simple songs of Schoolhouse Rocks for teaching the basic facts of grade school, particularly the times tables. Nothing.
Youngest is having trouble mastering her 6, 7 and 8 times tables so after a long time working together and reviewing the facts, we’ve popped in the VHS tape of “Multiplication Rocks” to review the […]
My poor grad students. In this morning’s seminar, we finished up our trek through the terrible text of social history a bit early, so I turned the topic to practical matters in the field that they wanted to know about. They asked about journals, article submission and doctoral programs — all good questions. Still, it’s […]
The fifties are history now, aren’t they? Well, at least by some standards, so these images, then, count as history: Plan 59: The Museum & Shop of Mid-Century Illustration.
My students are intrigued by the thoughts of ephemera and advertising as history, whether it be campaign buttons that declare “I Like Ike”, posters for a sixties […]
Escorting youngest out of her school today I was buffeted by crowds of kids in the blustery rain. And I fell. Hard. On my left hip. Broke my umbrella. Soaked the seat of my pants.
Ow. Ow, ow, ow!