April 24

A real potpourri, from Freddie and the Dreamers to Angela Davis

1965

Back to school tomorrow! That's all I need to ruin my vacation. I didn't go to church but I did my share of work. Freddie and the Dreamers were on Ed Sullivan tonight. What a bunch of nuts! Especially Freddie -- He's about 30 years old and fools around like a clown!

(They sing nice, too.)

Comment 2006

Actually, in 1965, Freddie Garrity was about 25; but of course, that is the same as 30 to a 15-year-old.

Comment 2023

I never had a crush on Freddie. Which is odd, because as an adult, I came to prefer silly nerds.

1979

I have had a few good days lately…still feel a bit unsettled somehow. I feel that I am not doing my best. Don’t I go through this every year? I am still doing more than anyone; some of it I am not doing as well as I could, but I decided a while ago that I preferred  variety to perfection. For now, that is fine, but I can see how eventually the perfectionist in me will take over. (At least more than usual.)

Comment 2023

When did I let go of my perfectionism? It’s been decades, I am sure. The first step was around the time of this diary, from my grad school years. I was teaching a class and taking four more. At the beginning of each term, I’d decided which of the four was only worth the effort for a B grade. Sometime in the 1980s, I realized that in return for my salary, the University expected certain tasks, not a set number of hours. So if I could get those things done in 40 hours (or less!) instead of 60  or more, I could maintain my sanity. It took a while to convince my department head not to expect to see me on campus for those 40 hours, but eventually she gave in. In the run-up to tenure, I published five or more articles a year (all refereed); after I was promoted, I erased half of them from my CV and swore never to publish crap again. Variety over perfection, quality over quantity. Words to live by.

1984

Mom arrives on Saturday. I keep thinking what a big deal this is for her. I hope she enjoys living down here.

I’ve been busy and preoccupied with work lately. C and J’s visit last week was excellent but left me very disoriented. The next few weeks will be crazy, but then it’s the end of the semester and a change of pace. I’m teaching first summer session, but that doesn’t bother me. Maybe next summer I’ll teach two courses, both 1st summer session and we could go to Canada to see Bob. The $$ would be nice, and I’d like to teach the history of costume sequence more often.

1998

Oddly enough, it didn’t rain. It is, instead, a lovely mild day. A Friday. Jim is off today, which gives me the sense of this being some kind of long weekend. I have several little diddly things to do, but they are important. (Michael’s recommendation, the slides, etc.) At least part of today will be working on my talk and on the distance education proposal. But I am looking forward to getting other stuff done, like going to the bank (at last!). May is already getting busy and it isn’t even here yet! I am feeling so scattered this morning . And raring’ to go!

So maybe it is time to go!

Comment 2023

Michael who? What slides? All those things I thought were important, when I had a bonus long weekend with my husband on a “lovely mild day”. 

2012 Facebook

Yes, that’s THE Angela Davis.

L to R: Me, THE Angela Davis, my lovely department chair, one of my esteemed colleagues.

Comment 2023

We met, we had dinner, we chatted. You can say I know her, but I doubt she remembers me. Still, a cool moment.

2020 (Bullet Journal)

• Write

• Knit

• Ning or ??? With Jenny

• Photos

• Fitness

• 1/2 of Dilwale

• TGIF

• Lily

Comment 2023

More COVID fun. We tried to keep up our TGIF happy hour on Zoom, instead of our favorite brew pub. Without the surly bartender, it was not the same. (We love our surly bartender; it’s all an act, and he does it so well.) 

Who’s Lily? Or what?

2023

A few days ago I was happily rotating among four knitting projects. Today, two are done and a third is nearly there. This cannot stand.

2024

An excellent day. (I am trying to shift my posts to the afternoon or evening; why journal in the morning? Interesting habit…). I had scheduled a shopping/lunch/errands excursion with buddy and the weather cooperated with sunshine and a warm breeze. We lunched at the oft-mentioned favorite brew pub, and were waiting on by our surly bartender. May I say: steak fries with mole and crema. Also a salad with port-poached pears.

Knitting update: four works in progress and I found the matching yarn I needed for the biggest one. ON SALE!