January 16

Blah, blah, blah. All I am doing is avoiding housework.

1965

I got my hair cut today. It looks like this: (drawing to come) This is when it isn't set. I called up B and told her how I'd like it changed - the talent show theme, not my hair. We would have Old West half and new West half. It will be easier, then, to introduce the combos. I babysat for the Os and got $3. At 8:30 I called H and we talked until 11:00.

Comment 2023

Oh, my hair. Long, short, or in-between, it was never right. It can be wavy. When it’s long enough, it can be almost straight. In the humid DC summers, it has a wild party on my head. In my teens, twenties, and thirties, I pursued every trend, without success. My flip flopped. I could get a Twiggy haircut, but never her body. Perms? Don’t even talk about perms. I have cut my own hair (there was a cool how-to book in the 70s, and I was moderately good at it).

I am finally at peace with my hair. Gray is good. I can wear more colors with gray hair, it turns out. My hair is short in the summer, longer in the winter. If I start to want to wear it in a ponytail, that means it’s time for a haircut, because it’s starting to annoy me. It has to be short enough in front that it doesn’t get in my eyes when I swim. About once a week someone tells me my hair looks nice. “Thanks,” I say. “It does what it wants.”

1978

A new semester starts tomorrow. I should have finished my Smithsonian proposal this weekend . But…I didn’t. Instead I did other things: curry, bread, sewing, cleaning.

Please let it be a good term. May I work hard and learn.

Is faith, once lost, gone for good? How important is believing in the Trinity, or going to church? Is Hubert Humphrey’s soul being weighed by Ra and Horus right now? I certainly don’t want to go to hell, if there is one. But it is impossible to will myself to believe in Christian doctrine. I feel a little guilty about not going to church, But I found church was too exclusive, trying to fence itself off from “unbelievers”. I want a place that believes in the importance of the dignity of the human spirit, not just people like me.

1979

I’m “all done” at the Smithsonian, at least for now. There’s more to do at spring break: a trip to the Butterick archives. Right now I don’t feel especially motivated, but should be doing housework. B-o-r-i-n-g.

Last night we bought $400 worth of rugs, a shock to my system. But they are nice, both all wool and very soft. We’re going to paint the bedroom gray, probably this weekend. With the gray rug, it will be very peaceful looking. Blah, blah, blah. All I am doing is avoiding housework.

1980

Next week, I’m off to Blacksburg for my first real interview for a faculty position. To say that I am excited, nervous, anxious, etc. is to say the least. At least I am likely to get work done on my dissertation between now and then. If I am going to start a full-time job in nine months, the thesis needs to be DONE.

1993

Winter break is almost over. Finally got my office moved, though the computer is still home and I don’t have a telephone yet. But it’s all ok. My new office is wonderful. Not as spacious as before. I’ll miss the table where I used to work. But other than that, it’s about the same size. The work area is a bit smaller, with a smaller desk. The rug and the love seat are great additions, as is the coffee machine. Home sweet office. Need to make it pleasant, since I am so far from the main office. If you build it, they will come.

I need to finish the outline for the new AMST course (Diversity in American Culture) and get back to the book. I really feel the old department fading away. I want to be an “American studies” person. I think I see a path. I need to redirect my research somehow, and begin to work with graduate students.This has been an exciting, productive break. TOO Short! I could use another week to prepare for classes, but I’m mostly ready. And spring break is only 6 weeks away.

Comment 2024

This was the beginning of my transition from the Department of Textiles and Consumer Economics to American Studies. My stint as acting chair of the defunct unit was over, and I was finally moving to a new office. There wasn’t a space in the actual American Studies department, so they moved me to a different building all by myself. I taught in the classroom across the hall, and tried to make the office as inviting as possible so students (and maybe even colleagues!) would come and visit. It sort of worked, with the students at least.

1997

I feel better when my physical surroundings are not just simple, but uncluttered. Maybe that’s why I spend most of January throwing things away.

1998

Research is completely off my radar. I didn’t even show up on the” 20 things I love to do” list. What went wrong?

2005

The writing retreat was excellent. I did indeed get work done - the better part of an article or chapter, in fact. The challenge is to maintain the habits of the last two days, and the sense of accountability. Both Friday and Saturday I wrote for an hour after breakfast, walked to campus for meetings, then took a rest/exercise break until 3, then wrote until 5 or 5:30.

2024

Remember my friend P, the Ringo look-alike? I found her picture! Behold: